tissue plasminogen activator

noun

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

Recent Examples of tissue plasminogen activator from the Web

The drug, known as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), is a potent blood thinner and was approved as an effective clot-busting treatment by the Food and Drug Administration in 1996.

— kevin sheth, Washington Post, "Too many people die from strokes because treatment is delayed," 8 Apr. 2018
For stroke, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) must be administered within three hours to dissolve blood clots that may be blocking blood flow to the brain.

— bryant stamford, The Courier-Journal, "Heart attack and stroke symptoms: You should know the difference between men and women," 29 Mar. 2018
To qualify for the Target: Stroke Honor Roll, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient's arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-busting agent called tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA.

— Houston Chronicle, "Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital honored for stroke care," 31 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tissue plasminogen activator.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of tissue plasminogen activator

1981

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

tissue plasminogen activator

noun

medical Definition of tissue plasminogen activator

: a clot-dissolving enzyme that has an affinity for fibrin, that catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, that is produced naturally in blood vessel linings, and that is used in a genetically engineered form to prevent damage to heart muscle following a heart attack and to reduce neurological damage following ischemic stroke —abbreviation tPA