title: Streptokinase and enoxaparin in the pre-hospital management of the ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: In a pilot study, safety and efficacy of an accelerated Streptokinase (SK) regimen (0.75 MU/10 min. repeated after 50 min. if no signs of coronary reperfusion were detected) in combination with enoxaparin was evaluated in the prehospital (preASENOX regimen) and in the in-hospital (in ASENOX regimen) phase of the ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STAMI) and compared to the in-hospital standard SK plus Heparin (the StSK regimen).
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 262 consecutive patients (age 34-74 years) thrombolised within the first 6 hours after the onset of STAMI was divided in three subgroups according to the mentioned regimens: preASENOX (64 patients); in ASENOX (69 patients) and StSK (129 patients). Enoxaparin was administered i.v. 40 mg before the first dose of 0.75 MU of SK and 1 mg/kg every 12 hours for 5-7 days. Heparin was infused 1000 i.u./h 48-96 hrs. Three noninvasive reperfusion criteria were used: 1) Rapid cessation of the chest pain; 2) Rapid decreasing of the ST segment elevations by more than 50% from the initial value; 3) Rapid increasing of the CK and CK-MB with a peak within the first 12 hrs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The chest pain-thrombolysis time was 145 +/- 52 min in the preASENOX subgroup, significantly shorter as that in the ASENOX subgroup (172 +/- 73 min, p = 0.016) and the StSK one (168 +/- 80 min, p = 0.038). The ratios of the CR were 81.2%, 78.2% and 62.0%, respectively (preASENOX vs StSK p = 0.025; in ASENOX vs StSK p = 0.030). The inhospital mortalities were: 3.12% (preASENOX); 5.8% (inASENOX) and 10.8% (StSK)(non-significant differences). Only one case of ischemic stroke was registered (in the inASENOX subgroup). Symptomatic hypotension appeared more frequent in the preASENOX (39.06%), and inASENOX (43.47%) subgroups as compared to the SSK one (20.15%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1) The preASENOX and inASENOX regimens are safe, and lead toward a significant higher ratios of coronary reperfusion as compared to StSK regimen; 2) Our data suggest a very low mortality in patients treated with the preASENOX regimen. Further investigations (randomized studies) are needed for a definite conclusion.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Cardiology, Emergency Hospital, 8, Calea Floreasca, 79406 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tatu-Chiţoiu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oprişan
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cismara
authors.forename: Rodica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marinescu
authors.forename: Adela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marinescu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods; D017984:Enoxaparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017984:Enoxaparin; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D013300:Streptokinase