Three patients with venographically proven axillary vein thromboses were treated with low-dose streptokinase infused directly into the involved vein. These veins had been occluded from twelve hours to three weeks. No complications and no marked systemic effects occurred. Patency was achieved in all three patients. Directly infused, low-dose streptokinase may provide an alternative to treatment with heparin and may eliminate the sequela of chronic venous thrombosis.
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