Late thrombolysis

Abstract

A study of patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) with a time of evolution between 12 and 14 hours at the Intensive Care Unit was conducted from February to May, 1997, in order to extend the time window for lithic therapy with recombinant streptokinase (RS) when this is administered between 12 and 24 hours of evolution of the AMI. To measure the outcome it was necessary to take into consideration the final size of the infarction, the nonfatal complications during hospitalization and the readmission due to cardiac cause during the 3 months following discharge. The AMI size was a little smaller among the thrombolized patients. The difference was more evident among men, who still complained of chest pain and had an important supradepression of the ST segment, and in those with infarction of anterior localization. The use of recombinant streptokinase in patients with AMI who arrive at the hospital between 12 and 14 hours after the onset of the symptoms may be benefitial.

Keywords

• infarto de miocardio
• agentes fibrinoliticos/uso terapéutico
• electrocardiografia
• terapia trombolitica/métodos.