SYN: plasminogen activator.
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uro·ki·nase .yu̇r-ō-'kī-.nās, -.nāz n an enzyme that is produced by the kidney and is found in human urine, that activates plasminogen, and that is used therapeutically to dissolve blood clots (as in the heart)
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n.
an enzyme produced in the kidney and also present in blood and urine that is capable of breaking up blood clots. It activates plasminogen directly to plasmin, which dissolves blood clots. See plasminogen activators.
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uro·ki·nase (UK) (u″ro-kiґnās) u-plasminogen activator; the term is used particularly to denote a pharmaceutical preparation of the enzyme, administered intravenously as a thrombolytic agent in the treatment of acute coronary arterial thrombosis and acute pulmonary embolism; also used to restore patency to intravenous catheters.Medical dictionary. 2011.