A current status of the employement of fibrinolytic therapy in cardiology is presented. The authors describe the fibrinolytic system and a complete pharmacological revision of streptokinase, the streptokinase/Lis-plasminogen complex, urokinase and scu-PA. The laboratory changes induced by the fibrinolytic therapy are described, and the fibrinolytic inhibitors are detailed. Finally, a study of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction is presented.