If a patient has developed antibodies due to a previous streptococcal infection, what adjustment is made to their streptokinase dosage?

In the context of treating a patient with streptokinase who has developed antibodies due to a previous streptococcal infection, the correct adjustment is to increase the dosage of streptokinase. This is because the presence of antibodies can neutralize the effects of streptokinase, leading to a reduced therapeutic response. By increasing the dosage, the aim is to overcome the inactivation caused by the antibodies and ensure effective thrombolysis.

This approach contrasts sharply with situations where an alternative drug might be chosen. For patients with a history of streptococcal infections, the development of antibodies diminishes the efficacy of standard dosing; thus, merely maintaining the standard dose would not provide sufficient therapeutic effect. Furthermore, a decrease in dosage would further diminish the already compromised effectiveness. Therefore, an increase in dosage becomes a necessary adjustment to combat the neutralizing effects of the antibodies and achieve the desired outcomes in thrombolytic treatment.