Intra-arterial reteplase for the treatment of acute limb ischemia.

The removal of urokinase from the market has created a dilemma for interventionists and vascular surgeons treating patients with acute limb threatening ischemia due to arterial thrombosis or embolization. Reteplase is a newer, fibrin-specific thrombolytic agent with properties that make it an attractive alternative to urokinase. We report two cases of successful treatment of acute, limb threatening ischemia with intra-arterial Reteplase therapy.