The objective of the present study was to assess the action of streptokinase, a streptococcal derivative with fibrinolytic capacity, in the prevention of intraperitoneal adhesions in rats. Eighty animals were divided into four groups of 20 each; group A (control) received isotonic saline by the intraperitoneal route, group B received streptokinase by the intraperitoneal route at the dose of 60.000 units/kg body weight diluted in 2 ml isotonic saline, group C received 60.000 streptokinase units diluted in 1 ml isotonic saline by the intravenous route, and group D received 30.000 streptokinase units in 2 ml isotonic saline by the intraperitoneal route and 30.000 streptokinase units diluted in 1 ml isotonic saline by the intravenous route. The animals were submitted at random to median laparotomy for the preparation of stitches inducing adhesions of the ischemic type according to the model of FERRAZ-NETO et al. (1991) modified, and sacrified with a lethal dose of sulfuric ether on the 3rd and 7th postoperative day. Streptokinase was found to be effective in the prevention of adhesions when used by the intraperitoneal route (p=0,0349) or when administered both intraperitoneal and intravenously (p=0,0073). Comparison of the 3rd and 7th posteperative day within the same group showed no significant difference, suggesting that the drug acts during the early period of the healing process. We conclude that streptokinase is effective in the prevention of adhesions formation when injected by the intraperitoneal route or by the combined intraperitoneal and intravenous routes at the dose employed in rats.

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