title: A new thrombolytic regimen for acute myocardial infarction using combination half dose tissue-type plasminogen activator with full dose streptokinase: a pilot study. KAMIT Study Group.
abstract: Because a previous study utilizing a combination of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) and urokinase demonstrated reduced reocclusion rates compared with rates obtained with rt-PA alone, this study was conducted to determine whether the combination of rt-PA and streptokinase might achieve similar results at reduced cost. Forty patients with acute myocardial infarction were treated with a 1 h infusion of rt-PA (50 mg) and streptokinase (1.5 million U) administered within 6 h (mean 3.6 +/- 1.2) of symptom onset. Emergency coronary arteriography revealed patency of the infarct-related artery in 30 (75%) of 40 patients. With the addition of coronary angioplasty in those who had unsuccessful thrombolytic reperfusion, the early patency rate was increased to 98%. In-hospital mortality rate (2.5%) and the incidence of significant bleeding requiring transfusion (15%) were low. Angiographically documented reocclusion of the infarct vessel occurred in 3 (8%) of 37 patients by day 7. Regional wall motion of the infarct zone improved by 0.9 +/- 0.9 SD/chord (p less than 0.0005), and ejection fraction increased 3.6 +/- 8% units (p less than 0.05) between immediate and day 7 studies. In contrast to the price of full dose rt-PA ($2,300) or rt-PA with urokinase ($3,500), the cost of this regimen was $1,230. This pilot study demonstrates that at half the cost, a combination of half dose rt-PA with full dose streptokinase offers high infarct vessel patency, recovery of ventricular function, a low rate of reocclusion and few bleeding complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Grines
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Nissen
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Branco
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gurley
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: DeMaria
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012008:Recurrence; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005340:Fibrinogen; D013300:Streptokinase; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator