Preventing recurrent myocardial infarction. Use of calcium-channel blockers.
Although mortality in the first month after myocardial infarction is only 8% for patients who have non-Q-wave infarction, these patients are highly vulnerable to reinfarction and death throughout most of the first year. Repeated episodes of non-Q-wave infarction result in a cumulative amount of injury so that two years after the initial episode, survival rates of these patients are similar to those of patients with Q-wave infarction. Prophylactic diltiazem (Cardizem) given 24 to 48 hours after admission reduced the incidence of early reinfarction and severe angina in patients who had non-Q-wave infarction.
Roberts
R
R
Baylor College of Medicine, Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030.
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004110:Diltiazem; D009543:Nifedipine