Definition of tissue plasminogen activator
: a clot-dissolving enzyme with an affinity for fibrin that is produced naturally in blood vessel linings and is used in a genetically engineered form to prevent damage to heart muscle following a heart attack and reduce neurological damage following ischemic stroke
—abbreviation TPA
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for tissue plasminogen activator
The first known use of tissue plasminogen activator was in 1981
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