A client will be receiving Alteplase for an acute myocardial infarction. The nurse explains to the client that this medication is used for which purpose?

Alteplase, or tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), is a thrombolytic medication administered to patients who have experienced an acute myocardial infarction (MI) because of its propensity for degrading the fibrin that allows for platelets (thrombocytes) to aggregate within a thrombus (blood clot).

In order for an MI, otherwise known as a heart attack, to occur, a blood clot must form within the vasculature that provides blood to the muscle (myocardium) of the heart itself. The blood clot, cuts off blood supply to the heart, which means that the blood no longer has access to oxygen and nutrients. The tissue suffers from this lack of nourishment and begins to die, a term called infarct. In order to restore the blood flow, the blood clot must be removed or broken up. Alteplase allows for the latter to take place.

Hence, alteplase is sometimes referred to as the "clot buster." Its purpose is to break down (lyse) blood clots.