Final answer:
Streptokinase is a thrombolytic agent used to dissolve blood clots, which categorizes it as a clot-busting medication rather than for reducing blood pressure or acting as an antacid or anticoagulant. It works by converting plasminogen to plasmin and should be used within a certain timeframe following a thrombotic event.
Step-by-step explanation:
Streptokinase is an important thrombolytic agent used in medicine to break down unwanted blood clots. It operates by converting plasminogen to plasmin, the enzyme that disintegrates clots. This action categorizes streptokinase as a clot-busting medication rather than a drug that is used to lower blood pressure, treat angina, or act as an anticoagulant. Therefore, the correct answer to the original question is (b) Streptokinase is used as a clot-busting medication.
It's vital to administer streptokinase carefully because it has a potent effect on dissolving blood clots, and it should be given within a specific time frame after the onset of thrombotic events such as stroke or myocardial infarction (heart attack) to improve patient prognosis. However, if a stroke is caused by hemorrhage rather than a thrombus (clot), thrombolytic therapy like streptokinase would not be appropriate.
Thrombolytic therapy represents a crucial part of emergency care for some cardiovascular diseases. Unlike anticoagulants such as aspirin, which prevent new clots from forming, thrombolytic agents actively dissolve existing clots, thereby restoring blood flow and reducing damage to affected tissues.