Influence of thrombolytic therapy, with or without intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation, on 12-month survival in the SHOCK trial.
BACKGROUND
The enhancement of diastolic coronary blood flow by the combination of thrombolytic therapy (TT) and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) in experimental studies provides a rationale for their combined use in acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by cardiogenic shock. We examined the relation between TT (with and without IABP) and 12-month survival in the SHould We Emergently Revascularize Occluded Coronaries for Cardiogenic ShocK (SHOCK) Trial.


RESULTS
Among 302 patients with myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock who were randomized in the SHOCK Trial, 16 had absolute contraindications to TT. Among 150 patients randomly assigned to initial medical stabilization (IMS), 63% received TT, as recommended per protocol, compared with 49% of 152 patients randomly assigned to emergency revascularization, in whom TT was not recommended if immediate angiography was available. IABP deployment, which was protocol-recommended, was used in 86% of patients. The rate of severe bleeding was similar in patients receiving TT and in those not receiving TT (31% vs 26%, P =.37). Among patients randomly assigned to IMS, TT was associated with improved 12-month survival (unadjusted mortality hazard ratio, 0.59; P =.01; mortality hazard ratio adjusted for age and prior MI, 0.62; P =.02). TT was not associated with improved 12-month survival among patients randomly assigned to emergency revascularization (unadjusted mortality hazard ratio, 0.93; P =.76; mortality hazard ratio adjusted for age and prior MI, 1.06, P =.81). The test for interaction of TT and randomization group P value was.16, and there was insufficient statistical power to demonstrate a differential effect of TT on 12-month survival by treatment group assignment.


CONCLUSIONS
Among patients randomly assigned to IMS in the SHOCK Trial, TT was associated with improved 12-month survival and did not significantly increase the risk of severe bleeding.
Department of Cardiology, Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. Johnf@adhb.govt.nz
John K
JK
French
Henry A
HA
Feldman
Susan F
SF
Assmann
Timothy
T
Sanborn
Sebastian T
ST
Palmeri
David
D
Miller
Jean
J
Boland
Christopher E
CE
Buller
Richard
R
Steingart
Lynn A
LA
Sleeper
Judith S
JS
Hochman
D000368:Aged; D015908:Counterpulsation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D015996:Survival Rate; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects