title: Comparison of primary percutaneous coronary intervention and streptokinase for acute isolated inferior ST elevation myocardial infarction with a predicted low risk profile.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the treatment of choice for acute myocardial infarction, especially for high-risk patients, but the data for low-risk patients are conflicting. A very low-risk subgroup of acute inferior myocardial infarction can be identified by electrocardiographic and clinical criteria during admission. We aimed to compare the outcomes of primary PCI and streptokinase treatment in this subgroup, which has not been evaluated separately before.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed in-hospital and 10-month follow-up outcomes of 97 patients with inferior acute myocardial infarction and clinical and electrocardiographic criteria predicting low risk who have been treated with primary PCI or streptokinase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight patients received streptokinase, and 49 had undergone primary PCI. Both during the in-hospital period and follow-up, the groups did not differ in the end points of death, reinfarction, or stroke (in-hospital: 2.1% versus 4.1%, P=.57; follow-up: 8.9% versus 8.9%, P=1.000). Length of hospital stay was longer in the streptokinase group (6.5+/-2.5 versus 9.1+/-3.7 days, P=.001). Rate of repeat revascularization was reduced in the PCI group at 10 months (28.9% versus 55.6%, P=.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When streptokinase and primary PCI are compared in isolated inferior acute myocardial infarction patients with a low-risk profile, there are no differences for in-hospital and long-term rates of death, reinfarction, or stroke. Primary angioplasty reduces the length of initial hospital stay, and reduces repeat admissions by decreasing the need for subsequent revascularization procedures. Large-scale studies are needed to reach a final conclusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kocaeli Acibadem Hospital, Acibadem University, Istanbul, Turkey. tnorgaz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Tugrul
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Norgaz
authors.forename: Sevket
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gorgulu
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aksu
authors.forename: Gultekin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hobikoglu
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ergelen
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Onturk
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narin
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D056989:Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D013300:Streptokinase