| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Circulation. 1995;91:476-485.)
© 1995 American Heart Association, Inc.
Articles |
Does PTCA in Acute Myocardial Infarction Affect Mortality and Reinfarction Rates?
A Quantitative Overview (Meta-Analysis) of the Randomized Clinical Trials
From the Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass (K.B.M.), and the Division of Cardiology and Program of Preventive Cardiology and Therapeutics, Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (S.Y.).
 |
Abstract |
|---|
 Top Abstract IntroductionMethods Results Discussion References |
|---|
Background Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is often performed after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) either as an adjuvant to thrombolytic therapy or instead of thrombolysis. The effect of PTCA in AMI on mortality and reinfarction has remained unclear, with the available randomized trials indicating inconsistent results.
Methods and Results A systematic overview (meta-analysis) of the randomized trials was conducted to assess the effect of PTCA in AMI on mortality and reinfarction rates. Data from 7 trials in which primary PTCA was evaluated and 16 trials in which PTCA after thrombolysis was studied were included in this overview, comprising a total of 8496 patients. The trials represented different approaches to the timing of PTCA after AMI. The trials of PTCA after thrombolytic therapy were also categorized according to the different protocols with respect to the routine or elective character of PTCA in the invasive group. A reduction in short-term (6 week) mortality (odds ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.33, 0.94) and in the combined outcome of short-term mortality and nonfatal reinfarction (odds ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.35, 0.80) was observed in the trials comparing primary PTCA with thrombolytic therapy. In contrast, in trials in which an approach of thrombolysis and PTCA was compared with thrombolytic therapy alone, there was no important difference in early mortality, with an apparent reduction in mortality between 6 and 52 weeks. The lower mortality between 6 and 52 weeks among 6-week survivors seemed to be restricted to the subgroup of trials in which PTCA was used as a routine strategy (odds ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.39, 0.87).
Conclusions Although the analyses of the various categories of trials suggest that primary PTCA may be more beneficial than thrombolytic therapy in AMI, these data should be interpreted cautiously unless confirmed by larger studies. In contrast, the addition of various other strategies of PTCA to thrombolytic therapy does not convincingly indicate a clinically different outcome than if a more conservative strategy is followed, in which PTCA is used only if clinically indicated. Some specific strategies, however, such as rescue PTCA in high-risk patients with occluded arteries, may be of benefit.
Key Words: meta-analysis • angioplasty • thrombolysis • myocardial infarction
|
Introduction |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethods Results Discussion References |
|---|
Reperfusion therapy with a thrombolytic agent reduces mortality and improves left ventricular function in acute myocardial infarction (AMI).1 After thrombolytic therapy, about 50% of patients still have some residual stenosis of the infarct-related artery. This predisposes to recurrent ischemia and recurrent coronary occlusion, which may worsen ventricular function or lead to impaired quality of life or catastrophic events such as sudden death or reinfarction. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of the stenotic infarct artery reduces the degree of stenosis, but the procedure itself sometimes produces reocclusion, which may lead to an extension of the infarct. In other cases, despite persistent occlusion or stenosis of the infarct-related artery, flow to the ischemic myocardium may be restored by collateral flow. Therefore, the balance of benefits versus risks with PTCA in an individual patient cannot be generally predicted, especially if there is no evidence of ongoing ischemia or hemodynamic instability.
Attempting PTCA instead of thrombolytic therapy in patients presenting very early after myocardial infarction (primary PTCA) has the theoretical advantage of early and complete coronary patency in the vast majority of patients in addition to decreasing residual stenosis. Therefore, compared with PTCA as an adjuvant to thrombolytic therapy, primary PTCA has the potential of decreasing the extent of myocardial necrosis. Such a strategy could lead to greater preservation of ventricular function and hence better short-term and long-term survival. On the other hand, primary PTCA requires rapid access to a catheterization laboratory 24 hours per day. Therefore, it may not be widely feasible; moreover, it may be associated with greater perioperative risks.
Despite the widespread use of early postinfarction PTCA after AMI in the United States,2 the benefit of this intervention in AMI has remained unproven.3 4 5 6 7 8 Although a few randomized trials have suggested some benefit to performing PTCA after thrombolysis,9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 other trials have shown no advantage or an adverse trend compared with more conservative management.17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Large properly randomized controlled trials of PTCA in AMI are difficult to organize, since only a limited number of centers can offer PTCA. Further, there are additional reasons that make it difficult to achieve a sufficient difference in the proportion of patients receiving PTCA in the intervention and control groups. First, the procedure may prove impracticable among a high proportion of patients, or the stenosis of the culprit lesion may have spontaneously decreased in severity so that PTCA might not be considered to be indicated. Second, PTCA cannot be withheld from patients randomized to the control arm of these trials when specific indications, such as ischemia, arise. Third, in some trials, in an attempt to resemble clinical decision making, PTCA is attempted in the invasive group only if certain clinical situations arise or if a considerable degree of residual stenosis remains. Although all the above problems decrease statistical power, such trials potentially shed some light on two contrasting generic strategies (more invasive versus less invasive).
To the extent that inconsistencies among the available studies reflect inadequate sample size, a quantitative overview, or "meta-analysis," of results of all randomized trials conducted may be helpful, and this is the main purpose of the present report.
The trials of PTCA in AMI can be divided into two main categories: (1) primary PTCA (direct PTCA) versus thrombolytic therapy and (2) PTCA after thrombolytic therapy versus thrombolytic therapy alone. The second category can be further subdivided into (2a) immediate PTCA (to be performed as soon as possible after thrombolytic therapy) versus no routine PTCA, (2b) early PTCA (to be performed several hours or within a few days after thrombolysis) versus no routine PTCA, (2c) delayed PTCA (to be performed 4 or more days after thrombolysis) versus no routine PTCA, (2d) immediate PTCA versus delayed PTCA, and (2e) rescue PTCA for persistent occlusion of the infarct-related artery after thrombolytic therapy versus no routine PTCA.
Furthermore, the latter category of trials can be subdivided according to another aspect of the study design, ie, whether PTCA was performed as a routine strategy (systematic PTCA) in the invasive group (2A) or only as an elective procedure (2B). Therefore, a variety of analyses of the data are required to help determine the most appropriate strategy regarding the use of PTCA in patients with AMI.
|
Methods |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethods Results Discussion References |
|---|
Identification of Trials
The goal was to identify all randomized trials, published or unpublished, of PTCA in the treatment of AMI. This review includes trials of primary PTCA and those in which PTCA was performed after thrombolysis. Published studies were identified through a literature search using MEDLINE and Index Medicus, extensive hand research using cross-references from original articles and reviews, and screening of abstracts of the major cardiology meetings between 1984 and 1994 (Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the European Society of Cardiology). In addition, we corresponded with the principal author of each study identified to inquire about studies that might have been unpublished or overlooked. This strategy was essential to discovering trials with unpromising results that might remain unreported.32 33 Our search did not reveal any trial that had not been published, either in full or at least in abstract form.
In most trials included in this analysis, the comparison of PTCA with a control treatment strategy was the main randomization of the study. However, in some studies, this was a secondary randomization arm. For the purpose of this meta-analysis, we have included data only from the treatment arms in which patients were randomized to receive PTCA or alternative therapy.
End Points of Interest
The primary end point of interest was
short-term mortality
within 6 weeks after myocardial infarction. When mortality at 6 weeks
was not available even from correspondence with the principal
investigator, deaths that occurred at the closest available time during
short-term follow-up were used instead, ie, mortality at any time up to
6 weeks or in-hospital mortality (which may be only 1 to 3 weeks but
usually includes the majority of deaths). In the majority of trials of
primary PTCA versus thrombolytic therapy, only in-hospital mortality
was available.
Other end points studied were mortality at 1 year after myocardial infarction (or the closest available time), nonfatal reinfarction within 6 weeks, and nonfatal reinfarction up to 1 year. Data on nonfatal infarction were combined with mortality to avoid the problem of competing risks.34 Information was also sought on the adherence to the protocol in regard to the actual number of patients receiving PTCA in the intervention group and in the control group.
Data Extraction and Verification
Information was sought on
the exact study design, on the numbers
actually undergoing PTCA in each group, and on the 6-week and 52-week
outcomes (survival and recurrence-free survival, ie, survival without
reinfarction). The relevant results were extracted from each of the
published articles into a standard format. These standard tables were
then mailed to the principal investigators, who were requested to
review the extracted data, to verify their accuracy, and when
necessary, to provide additional data.
Statistical Methods
The statistical methods used to combine
data have been described
in detail and used extensively.35 36 37
The underlying
principle is the comparison of patients allocated to intervention in
one trial only with those allocated to control treatment in the same
trial, avoiding direct comparisons of patients across different trials.
These are basically the standard methods for the combination of
information from multiple "2x2" tables, as reviewed by
Mantel
and Haenszel.38
|
Results |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethods Results Discussion References |
|---|
Description of Trials
The value of PTCA in AMI has been assessed in many nonrandomized studies but only a few randomized ones. A total of 26 relevant trials were identified.9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 In 7 of these trials, primary PTCA41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 was evaluated, and in 19 trials, PTCA after thrombolytic therapy9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 39 40 was studied. Investigators responsible for each of these 26 studies were contacted. Nineteen responded to the request to verify the data extracted and to provide additional unpublished information. Investigators of the LIFT study40 (Late Intervention Following Thrombolysis) had not analyzed the data with respect to the outcomes of interest for this meta-analysis at the time of submission of this article. Two other studies of PTCA after thrombolytic therapy12 39 had to be excluded from this overview because the published data were insufficient for the purposes of the overview. These trials represent less than 3% of the total of 8496 patients in the remaining 23 trials. For four trials, published or publicly presented data were used.41 43 44 45 46 Therefore, a total of 7 trials in which primary PTCA and thrombolysis were compared and 16 trials in which PTCA in addition to a thrombolytic regimen was studied, with 1 trial providing two15 31 and another three contrasts,26 27 were included in this meta-analysis.
In the primary PTCA trials,41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 angioplasty was performed as soon as the patient presented to the hospital. Patients in the comparison group received thrombolytic therapy as quickly as possible.
In four of the trials of PTCA after thrombolytic therapy, immediate PTCA was compared with no PTCA9 10 11 17 18 28 (2a). In five trials, early PTCA versus no PTCA were compared13 19 20 22 23 24 25 (2b). In three trials, delayed PTCA was compared with no planned PTCA16 21 30 (2c). In two trials, immediate PTCA was compared with delayed PTCA29 31 (2d). In two trials, rescue PTCA was studied14 15 (2e). In one trial, a three-way comparison of immediate PTCA versus early PTCA versus no PTCA was used.26 27 In one trial, two comparisons were made, one between immediate PTCA and delayed PTCA31 (2c) and another between rescue PTCA for occluded vessels and no rescue PTCA15 (2e).
In three trials of the first category (immediate versus no PTCA, 2a), PTCA was planned immediately and routinely in the invasive group, whereas the conservatively treated group was not to receive PTCA unless clinically indicated.9 10 11 17 18 In the fourth trial of this category, patients were treated with PTCA soon after thrombolysis if the infarct-related artery was not patent.28 If TIMI grade 0 or 1 flow was present at acute cardiac catheterization, rescue angioplasty was attempted.
In the second category (early PTCA versus no PTCA, 2b), the strategies used were more diverse. In two trials, TAMI 623 24 (Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction) and the trial conducted by Guerci et al,13 randomization was restricted to candidates who were suitable for PTCA only, and the trials contrasted PTCA performed between 6 and 24 hours13 or 3 days23 24 after thrombolysis with no PTCA. In the largest of all the trials, TIMI II19 20 (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction), patients were randomized to undergo PTCA 18 to 48 hours after thrombolysis if anatomically suitable or an approach in which PTCA was used only if patients had ischemia. In the other two trials in category 2b, angioplasty was offered for specific reasons. In the SIAM trial22 (Streptokinase in Acute Myocardial Infarction), patients were randomized to undergo PTCA in the invasive group if angiography demonstrated its "necessity" 14 to 48 hours after thrombolysis. In the conservatively treated group, an angiographic evaluation of the necessity for PTCA was again conducted only if evidence for myocardial ischemia existed. In the SWIFT study25 (Should We Intervene Following Thrombolysis), the decision whether to perform angioplasty in patients randomized to the invasive group after thrombolysis was left up to the operator's discretion. Patients with occluded vessels were included in this trial. No PTCA was planned for the conservative group unless clinically indicated.
In the category of trials comparing delayed with no PTCA (2c), three studies with somewhat different protocols were included. In a trial conducted in Israel,21 patients were randomized to an invasive group that underwent routine coronary arteriography at least 72 hours after thrombolysis (average, 5±2 days) or to a conservatively treated group, in which arteriography was performed only if myocardial ischemia persisted after this time period. In both groups, PTCA was performed if the residual stenosis led to a >50% obstruction in diameter of the infarct-related artery. In the TOPS trial30 (Treatment of Post-thrombolytic Stenoses), patients treated with thrombolytic therapy within 6 hours of chest pain onset, without evidence of ischemia on stress testing, with a residual stenosis of >50% in the infarct-related artery, and with anatomy suitable for PTCA were randomized between PTCA to be performed 4 to 14 days after MI versus no PTCA. In a subset of the European Cooperative Study Group heparin trials,16 patients were randomly assigned to angioplasty or conservative management 48 to 120 hours after infusion of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rTPA).
The fourth category (2d) consisted of two trials, TAMI
I29
and one comparison of the trial conducted by Belenkie et
al.31 In TAMI I, immediate PTCA was routinely performed
and compared with delayed elective PTCA if, on day 7 to 10, a residual
stenosis obstructed the vessel lumen by >50%. In the Canadian study,
patients with a patent infarct-related artery and a residual lumen
diameter stenosis of 
70% that was amenable to angioplasty were
randomized to undergo either immediate or delayed (18 to 48 hours)
angioplasty.
The fifth category (2e) contained two trials. The RESCUE trial14 included patients with anterior infarction who received thrombolytic therapy. Patients with TIMI grade 0 to 1 after failed thrombolysis were randomized to undergo rescue PTCA or continued conservative management. In the study conducted by Belenkie et al,15 patients in one arm were randomized to either rescue PTCA or a conservative strategy if the infarct-related artery was occluded more than 3 hours after the onset of infarction despite thrombolytic therapy. The patients in this arm of Belenkie's study did not overlap with the patients from the contrast group included in the fourth category described above. It should be noted that some trials from the other categories, namely TAMI 5, also included patients with occluded arteries, but in those trials this was not the primary comparison.
In TIMI IIA,26 27 three different treatment strategies were compared: immediate PTCA versus early PTCA versus no PTCA. The immediate invasive arm provided for PTCA if the residual stenosis was >60%. In the early invasive arm, in contrast, PTCA was performed 18 to 48 hours after thrombolysis only if the infarct-related arteries were patent with a residual stenosis. Among conservatively treated patients, PTCA was performed only if medically necessary.
Table
1
summarizes the treatment protocols.
|
Patient Crossover
In the seven trials of primary PTCA versus
thrombolytic
therapy, there was a high rate of intervention in those allocated to
the PTCA group (93%) compared with about 29% in the control group who
underwent PTCA at some time during hospitalization (mostly in
subsequent days) or within the first 6 weeks after infarction.
Therefore, the contrast in the proportions of patients receiving any
PTCA versus patients receiving no PTCA was substantial (64%).
Moreover, the contrast in the proportions of patients who were treated
with PTCA within the first few hours after onset of symptoms compared
with patients who were not treated with PTCA within the first
few hours was likely to be even larger.
The trials of PTCA after thrombolytic therapy were also categorized according to the different protocols with respect to the routine or elective character of PTCA administered in the invasive group, since the contrast in the proportions of patients receiving PTCA varied in the different trials. Two groups were formed: group A summarizing the trials comparing a routine approach to PTCA (ie, irrespective of the presence or absence of ischemia) versus no planned PTCA and group B comparing PTCA performed when medically indicated (ie, for ischemia) versus no planned PTCA. The two comparisons of immediate versus delayed PTCA were not included in this analysis. From TIMI IIA, only the contrast between immediate versus no PTCA was included.
In all trials of group A, a higher proportion of patients (63%) allocated to receive PTCA underwent PTCA, with few patients in the control group receiving PTCA (15%), thereby achieving a contrast of 48%. In the TIMI II trial,19 20 only patients with suitable anatomy underwent PTCA in the invasive group (54%). Further, 17% of the control patients in this trial underwent PTCA by 6 weeks, so that the contrast between the active and control groups was moderate (37%).
In group B, roughly half of the patients randomized to the invasive group actually received PTCA, as well as 18% of patients in the conservative treatment group (contrast, 35%).
The randomization and the
actual treatment in both groups are listed in
Table 2.
|
Mortality and Reinfarction
Data on the events in the
population reviewed are listed in Table 3. The results of the
comparisons are summarized in
Tables 4 and 5.
|
|
|
Trials of Primary
PTCA Versus Thrombolytic Therapy
Data on in-hospital or 6-week
mortality were available for all 7
trials. A considerable reduction in mortality was found in the combined
data (odds ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.33, 0.94) (Table 4
). No
important
statistical heterogeneity was observed between the trials
(
2, 7.3; P=.29). When deaths and
nonfatal MI were combined, the reduction in risk was similar and the
estimate somewhat more stable (odds ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.35, 0.80).
Long-term data are not yet available from a sufficiently large number
of patients to provide reliable estimates beyond 6 weeks.
Trials of PTCA After Thrombolytic Therapy
For 13 of
the studies, data were available for mortality at 6
weeks after MI. In the three trials in which 6-week data per se were
not available, these have been substituted by in-hospital mortality
data in SWIFT,25 by 2-week mortality data in
ECSG,17 18 and by mortality at 13 weeks in the study
conducted by van den Brand et al.16 From TIMI IIA, all
three contrasts were used for the appropriate categories. No
significant difference was observed in either of the three categories
accounting for the different timing of PTCA (Table 4) or in one
of the
two groups considering the routine or elective character of the
intervention (Table 5). No important heterogeneity was observed
between
the trials within the different categories or groups (immediate PTCA:
2=5.2, P=.27; early PTCA:
2=4.8, P=.44; delayed PTCA:
2=1.1, P=.3; immediate versus late
PTCA: 2=0.6, P=.74; rescue PTCA:
2=1.0, P=.33; routine PTCA:
2=12.3, P=.14; elective PTCA:
2=1.6, P=.82). The results of the
rescue PTCA trials differed considerably from those of the other
categories. The combined estimate of the odds of dying within 6 weeks
after MI was compatible with a reduction in risk if rescue PTCA was
performed (OR=0.38; 95% CI, 0.13, 1.06). The number of outcome events
in this category of trials, however, was sparse (Table 3).
Data from the five categories were also combined. Four
categories were combined to compare PTCA versus no planned PTCA. All
these approaches taken together could also be viewed as addressing the
more global question of whether an aggressive policy of mechanical
intervention might be superior to a more conservative approach to
invasive intervention in the treatment of AMI. For all combinations of
categories, data from the only three-arm trial, TIMI
IIA,26 27 were included only from category one
(immediate
versus no PTCA). None of the combinations revealed a significant result
(Table 4).
The numbers of patients who suffered a subsequent nonfatal myocardial infarction during the short-term follow-up were available from 13 of the 16 stu-dies.9 10 11 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 Ten of the study investigators provided data on reinfarction at 6 weeks after MI. In three studies, the closest time during short-term follow-up at which reinfarction data were available was substituted (in-hospital reinfarction in SWIFT,25 reinfarction at 2 weeks in ECSG,17 18 and reinfarction at 13 weeks in the study by van den Brand et al16 ). Since nonfatal reinfarction is not an independent end point as described above, nonfatal reinfarction and mortality were used as a combined outcome in the analysis. If data on nonfatal reinfarction were not available, only data on mortality were used. The odds of suffering either death or a reported nonfatal myocardial infarction were not altered significantly by PTCA in all but one category. An increase in the odds of death or nonfatal reinfarction was apparent in patients who received PTCA in a delayed fashion (several days after AMI) compared with patients who were not randomized to undergo PTCA at all (odds ratio=1.78; 95% CI, 0.99, 3.19). The lack of difference was consistent for the individual categories and the combination of categories as well as the two groups of trials (A and B).
Longer-term mortality data were available from 12 of the 16
trials.9 10 16 17 18 19 20 21 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Again, PTCA did not alter the
outcome after a 1-year follow-up (Tables 4 and
5).
The risk of suffering death or reported nonfatal
reinfarction during
long-term follow-up was evaluated from the data available at 1 year.
The resulting odds ratios for the five categories and for the
combinations as well as for the groups did not show a significant
association (Tables 4 and 5). Delayed PTCA,
however, was found to be
associated with a significantly increased risk of death at 1 year (odds
ratio=6.79; 95% CI, 1.32, 35.03) and the combined end point of
mortality or nonfatal reinfarction at 1 year (odds ratio=2.24; 95% CI,
1.19, 4.19). These results, however, were based on the data obtained
from only one21 and two21 30 trials,
respectively, and the high variability is reflected in the relatively
wide CIs of the estimates.
It is possible that with interventional
procedures, an excess of early
perioperative events may be offset by delayed and sustained benefit (as
has been observed in trials of coronary artery bypass graft surgery. To
explore this possibility, deaths that occurred between 6 weeks and 52
weeks were analyzed separately. Data were combined for patients who
were alive at 6 weeks and for whom a 1-year follow-up was available.
Among the various categories, the trials comparing early versus no PTCA
showed a nearly 40% reduction in risk (OR=0.61; 95% CI, 0.42, 0.88),
suggesting the possibility of a long-term beneficial effect of PTCA
when performed during the first days after AMI (Table 4). When
the four
categories comparing PTCA versus no PTCA were combined, nearly 30%
lower odds of death were found for the patients receiving PTCA
(OR=0.71; 95% CI, 0.51, 0.99). A combination of all five categories
indicated an odds ratio of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.53, 1.02).
When trials were
grouped into groups A and B, routine PTCA appeared
protective in the interval between 6 and 52 weeks among 6-week
survivors (OR=0.58; 95% CI, 0.39, 0.87) (Table 5).
|
Discussion |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethods Results Discussion References |
|---|
The analyses of the various categories of trials suggest but do not conclusively prove that primary PTCA may be more beneficial than thrombolytic therapy in AMI, whereas the addition of various strategies of PTCA to thrombolytic therapy may not result in an outcome clinically superior to a more conservative strategy when PTCA is used only if clinically indicated.
Primary PTCA
The trials of primary PTCA compared with
thrombolytic
therapy suggest lower mortality and reinfarction rates with PTCA.
Myocardial infarction is considered to result from acute coronary
occlusion. In animal experiments, very early mechanical reperfusion
leads to a substantial limitation of infarct size. In humans, the most
common approach to reperfusion has been the use of pharmacological
agents such as streptokinase, TPA, or anistreplase. However, even with
the most aggressive of these regimens (accelerated front-loaded TPA),
within 90 minutes after the initiation of thrombolytic therapy,
complete (TIMI grade 3) reperfusion is achieved in only about 50% of
all patients treated within 6 hours after onset of pain.49
This suggests that even with the best currently available thrombolytic
regimen, in approximately half the patients adequate coronary blood
flow is not achieved rapidly. Therefore, approaches to reestablish more
complete and earlier coronary blood flow are warranted. Innovative
thrombolytic approaches such as the use of double-bolus rTPA,
adjunctive therapies with antiplatelet antibodies, RheothRx, and
substituting hirudin for heparin may enhance the rates of more complete
90-minute patency. Alternatively, primary PTCA results in
recanalization of the infarct-related artery in more than 95% of
patients (the rate of TIMI grade 3 flow with primary PTCA is not well
defined; however, it is likely that a high proportion of patients would
have TIMI grade 3 flow). Moreover, in the patients in whom the artery
was opened, the increase in lumen after direct PTCA is greater than
that achieved with thrombolytic therapy. Therefore, as long as direct
PTCA can be applied rapidly and with minimal procedural risks, it might
lead to greater reductions in myocardial infarct size, improved
ventricular function, and lower mortality.
Although the currently available data on primary PTCA appear promising, they should be interpreted cautiously. First, only in two41 44 of the trials in which left ventricular function was measured was PTCA found to be superior to thrombolysis in improving left ventricular function. Second, these trials were conducted in a few highly specialized centers, and it may be that the outcome of PTCA is less impressive when performed in community hospitals by low-volume operators.50 Therefore, the present data should be viewed as a strong impetus for the conduct of larger trials in a more diverse range of hospitals, with clinical outcomes being the primary end points of interest. In the design of such trials, it may be prudent to expect differences that are more moderate than those currently observed. The need for such trials is further highlighted by the observations from a recent community registry that suggested similar survival and reinfarction rates up to 1 year in patients treated with PTCA (n=441) or thrombolysis (n=653) for AMI.51 Patients treated with angioplasty, however, tended to have fewer strokes, shorter hospital stays, and less recurrent ischemia.
PTCA as an Adjunct Treatment
In the trials in which PTCA was
used as an adjunct to
thrombolytic therapy, the results were less impressive. When mortality
at 6 weeks was analyzed, four of the five different approaches to
angioplasty (immediate PTCA compared with no PTCA, early PTCA compared
with no PTCA, delayed PTCA versus no PTCA, and immediate PTCA compared
with delayed PTCA) showed trends toward increased risk in the more
aggressively treated group. In none of these categories nor when the
categories were combined were these differences significant. It should
be noted, however, that one trial, the ECSG trial, was stopped by the
Monitoring Committee because of excess mortality in the PTCA
group.17 Similar findings hold in differentiating between
routine PTCA versus no PTCA and elective PTCA versus no PTCA. Routine
mechanical intervention in addition to thrombolysis therefore appears
to offer no immediate advantage in short-term mortality over the more
conservative approach. However, this situation may be analogous to the
trials of coronary artery bypass graft surgery, in which patients in
the surgical group have a higher initial operative
mortality.52 Only with subsequent 5-year follow-up was
lower mortality observed in the surgical group compared with the
medical group. Such long-term data are not yet available for most
trials of PTCA. When the data on 1-year mortality and reinfarction were
combined, results appeared somewhat more favorable for PTCA than in the
short term. Six-year follow-up data from the trial conducted by
Spiecker et al,53 however, do not show any long-term
survival benefit from immediate PTCA. The reduction in mortality
observed after 6 weeks and, to some extent, at 1 year did not persist
after 6 years of follow-up. In the ECSG trial, the excess mortality
observed during hospital stay persisted throughout the 5-year follow-up
period.54 Also, no reduction in late recurrent infarction
was observed.
It is possible that in the trials of adjunctive PTCA there was little effective myocardial reperfusion, or if it did occur, this was achieved relatively late. Late reperfusion beyond 12 hours has been associated with increased early mortality55 , and it is possible that these early hazards may also have been accentuated in these trials, in which PTCA was used relatively late compared with the trials of primary PTCA.55
Furthermore, a benefit from PTCA after thrombolysis was not apparent if the combined end point of mortality and nonfatal reinfarction at 6 weeks was considered. Reocclusion and reinfarction have been held responsible for the lack of benefit of immediate coronary angioplasty after thrombolytic therapy for AMI. It has been suggested, therefore, that immediate PTCA may be beneficial in selected patients, provided that these complications can be prevented.56 In the present overview, immediate PTCA seemed slightly favorable compared with no PTCA, whereas data on an early or delayed PTCA approach compared with no mechanical intervention or data on immediate PTCA compared with delayed PTCA were compatible with an increased risk of experiencing an event. The apparent difference in direction of the odds ratios for these categories could be due to random variation or to differences in design and conduct of the trials.
Long-term Results
In examination of short-term mortality, the
risk of the
interventional procedure itself must be taken into account. Coronary
angioplasty is associated with operator-dependent mortality that varies
with the skill and experience of the cardiologist. PTCA-related
mortality is viewed as part of the price of this approach to treatment
and should be factored into clinical decisions.52 There is
no good way to take such differences into account. Nevertheless,
analysis of late mortality conditional on survival beyond the first
few weeks may provide some valuable insights that might be helpful in
the design of future trials. Interestingly, a favorable result was
obtained in the analysis of mortality for the time interval between
6 and 52 weeks among 6-week survivors. PTCA was associated with a
considerably lower mortality between 6 and 52 weeks among 6-week
survivors. This association was particularly strong among patients
receiving PTCA during the first days after AMI and among patients
receiving PTCA as a routine strategy.
It might be possible that the apparent late benefit of the aggressive mechanical intervention simply represents survival of patients with good prognosis, representing a shift in mortality from later to earlier stages. Patients at high risk might die within the first weeks after the stressful intervention, which might be reflected in the slightly increased risk of death for the PTCA patients in the first 6 weeks. Longer follow-up would be necessary to determine whether an overall survival difference between the groups is likely to emerge. Similar long-term data from the trials of primary PTCA would also be helpful in assessing whether the early benefits are sustained or increased beyond 6 weeks. Other interventions (eg, CABG surgery or additional PTCA) that may be unequally performed in the two groups, however, will affect such a comparison.
Rescue PTCA
In most trials included in this overview, PTCA
was performed in
patients with lesions that seemed "suitable." Only few trials
included patients in whom PTCA was performed on occluded vessels. The
limited short-term data indicate that rescue PTCA for patients with
failed reperfusion after thrombolytic therapy might be beneficial,
although the risk reduction observed was not significant. It is
possible that in most trials, angioplasty is performed in patients in
whom the benefit is likely to be small, whereas PTCA is avoided in
those with occluded vessels for whom the benefit might be large (eg,
primary PTCA and rescue angioplasty of occluded vessels). Therefore,
rescue angioplasty should also be a subject of future clinical trials
in AMI.
Crossover Rates
Analysis of the trials using an
intention-to-treat analysis
may underestimate the effects of PTCA if there is a high rate of
"crossover." The modest contrasts of 48% and 35% observed in
the two respective groups of adjunctive PTCA will make it more
difficult to detect real differences. A real beneficial effect of
adjunctive PTCA may therefore be masked by the modest contrast in PTCA
rates in these trials. In calculation of the odds ratios for the trials
in group A, excluding the trial with the highest crossover (TIMI II),
however, did not change the interpretation of the estimates.
Limitations and Conclusions
The present meta-analysis has
several limitations.
Heterogeneity in the design of the various trials has posed
methodological difficulties. We have tried to overcome this by
combining trials of similar design in different categories and groups.
Although this tends to produce more homogeneous (and interpretable)
subgroups, it also tends to result in fewer events per category or
group, thereby decreasing statistical power and, conversely, increasing
the variability of the results. Furthermore, different thrombolytic
agents were used in the studies combined in the overview. It is unclear
whether the selection of the specific thrombolytic agent before PTCA
might influence the outcome. Finally, the method of meta-analysis
itself has its limitations57 ; its best use may be in
assisting the design of larger and more definite clinical trials.
In conclusion, although early primary PTCA appears to reduce mortality and reinfarction, even the data combined in this overview do not convincingly indicate a beneficial or harmful effect of systematic PTCA after thrombolysis. The possible value of rescue PTCA in occluded coronary arteries has not yet been sufficiently studied. The information contained in this overview can aid in the design of future trials. It appears that very early primary PTCA, when feasible, could have the greatest potential for benefit and requires reliable assessment in much larger trials with a few thousand patients followed over the long term.
|
Acknowledgments |
|---|
The authors would like to thank all collaborators who provided the data necessary for this meta-analysis: Gabriel I. Barbash, MD; Israel Belenkic, MD; David de Bono, MD; Marcel J. van der Brand, MD; Robert M. Califf, MD; Marcus A. DeWood, MD; Jaime Elizaga, MD; Stephen G. Ellis, MD; Raimund Erbel, MD; Alan D. Guerci, MD; Genell Knatterud, PhD; Cem Özbek, MD; Expedito E. Ribeiro da Silva, MD; Maarten L. Simoons, MD; and Eric Topol, MD. The authors are indebted to Richard Peto for helpful advice.
|
Footnotes |
|---|
Reprint requests to Salim Yusuf, 252 McMaster-HGH Clinic, Hamilton General Hospital, 237 Barton St E, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8L 2X2.
Received February 28, 1994; accepted August 29, 1994.
|
References |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethods Results Discussion References |
|---|
1. Stampfer MJ, Goldhaber SZ, Yusuf S, Peto R, Hennekens CH. Effect of intravenous streptokinase on acute myocardial infarction: pooled results from randomized trials. N Engl J Med. 1982;307:1180-1182. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
2.
Topol EJ, Ellis SG, Cosgrove DM, Bates ER, Muller DW, Schork
NJ, Schork MA, Loop FD. Analysis of coronary angioplasty practice in
the United States with an insurance-claims data base.
Circulation. 1993;87:1489-1497.
3. Ryan TJ. Angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction: is the balloon leaking? N Engl J Med. 1987;317:624-626. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
4.
Cheitlin MD. The aggressive war on acute myocardial
infarction: is the blitzkrieg strategy changing? JAMA. 1988;260:2894-2896.
5. Guerci AD, Ross RS. TIMI II and the role of angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 1989;320:663-665.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
6. Topol E. Coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. Ann Intern Med. 1988;109:970-980.
7.
Sleight P. Do we need to intervene after thrombolysis in
acute myocardial infarction? Circulation. 1990;81:1707-1709.
8.
Meier B. Balloon angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction:
was it buried alive? Circulation. 1990;82:2243-2245.
9. Erbel R, Pop T, Henrichs K-J, von Olshause K, Schuster CJ, Rupprecht HJ, Steuernagel C, Meyer J. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty after thrombolytic therapy: a prospective controlled randomized trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1986;8:485-495. [Abstract]
10. Erbel R, Pop T, Diefenbach C, Meyer J. Long-term results of thrombolytic therapy with and without percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1989;14:276-285. [Abstract]
11.
Topol EJ, O'Neill WW, Langburd AB, Walton JA,
Bourdillon PDV, Bates ER, Grines CL, Schork AM, Kline E, Pitt B. A
randomized, placebo-controlled trial of intravenous recombinant
tissue-type plasminogen activator and emergency coronary angioplasty in
patients with acute myocardial infarction. Circulation. 1987;75:420-428.
12. Uebis R, von Essen R, Merx W, Schmidt WG, Emons HP, Effert S. Combined medical and mechanical recanalization versus superselective streptokinase alone: reperfusion rate and time occlusion. Circulation. 1984;70(suppl II):II-329. Abstract.
13. Guerci AD, Gerstenblith G, Brinker JA, Chandra NC, Gottlieb SO, Bahr RD, Weiss JL, Shapiro EP, Flaherty JT, Bush DE, Chew PH, Gottlieb SH, Halperin HR, Ouyang P, Walford GD, Bell WR, Fatterpaker AK, Llewellyn M, Topol EJ, Healy B, Siu CO, Becker LC, Weisfeldt ML. A randomized trial of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator for acute myocardial infarction with subsequent randomization to elective coronary angioplasty. N Engl J Med. 1987;317:1613-1618. [Abstract]
14. Ellis SG, Ribeiro da Silva E, Heyndrickx GR, Talley JD, Cernigliaro C, Steg G, Spaulding C, Nobuyoshi M, Erbel R, Vassanelli C, Topol EJ, for the RESCUE Investigators. Final results of the randomized RESCUE study evaluating PTCA after failed thrombolysis for patients with anterior infarction. Circulation. 1993;88(suppl I):I-106. Abstract.
15. Belenkie I, Traboulsi M, Hall C, Hansen JL, Roth DL, Manyari D, Filipchuck NG, Schnurr LP, Rosenal TW, Smith ER, Knudtson ML. Rescue angioplasty during myocardial infarction has a beneficial effect on mortality: a tenable hypothesis. Can J Cardiol. 1992;8:357-362. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
16. van den Brand MJ, Betriu A, Lopez Bescos L, Nijssen K, Pfisterer ME, Renkin J, Saenz Cusi L, Zijlstra F, Simoons ML. Randomized trial of deferred angioplasty after thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction. Coron Artery Dis. 1992;3:393-401.
17. Simoons ML, Arnold AER, Betriu A, de Bono DP, Col J, Dougherty FC, von Essen R, Lambertz H, Lubsen J, Meier B, Michel PL, Raynaud P, Rutsch W, Sanz GA, Schmidt W, Serruys PW, Thery C, Uebis R, Vahanian A, Van de Werf F, Willems GM, Wood D, Verstraete M, for the European Cooperative Study Group for Recombinant Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator (rTPA). Thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator in acute myocardial infarction: no additional benefit from immediate percutaneous coronary angioplasty. Lancet. 1988;1:197-203. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
18.
Arnold AER, Simoons ML, Van de Werf F, de Bono DP, Lubsen J,
Tijssen JGP, Serruys PW, Verstraete M, for the European Cooperative
Study Group. Recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator and
immediate angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction: one-year
follow-up. Circulation. 1992;86:111-120.
19. The TIMI Study Group. Comparison of invasive and conservative strategies after treatment with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator in acute myocardial infarction: results of the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Phase II Trial. N Engl J Med. 1989;320:618-627. [Abstract]
20.
Williams DO, Braunwald E, Knatterud G, TIMI Investigators.
One-year results of the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction
Investigation (TIMI) Phase II Trial. Circulation. 1992;85:533-542.
21. Barbash GI, Roth A, Hod H, Modan M, Miller HI, Rath S, Zahav HY, Keren G, Motro M, Shachar A, Basan S, Agranat O, Rabinowitz B, Laniado S, Kaplinsky E. Randomized controlled trial of late in-hospital angiography and agioplasty versus conservative management after treatment with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in acute myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol. 1990;66:538-545. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
22. Özbek C, Dyckmans J, Sen S, Schieffer H, and the SIAM Study Group. Comparison of invasive and conservative strategies after treatment with streptokinase in acute myocardial infarction: results of a randomized trial (SIAM). J Am Coll Cardiol. 1990;15:63A. Abstract.
23. Topol EJ, Ellis SG, Wall TC, George BS, Vandormael M, Grines CL, Sanz ML, O'Brien M, Califf RM, for the TAMI-6 Study Group. A randomized, controlled trial of late (6-24 hour) reperfusion for acute myocardial infarction. Circulation. 1990;82(suppl III):III-539. Abstract.
24.
Topol EJ, Califf RM, Vandormael M, Grines CL, George BS, Sanz
ML, Wall T, O'Brien M, Schwaiger M, Aguirre FV, Young S, Popma JJ,
Sigmon KN, Lee KL, Ellis SG, the Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in
Myocardial Infarction-6 Study Group. A randomized trial of late
reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction.
Circulation. 1992;85:2090-2099.
25. SWIFT (Should We Intervene Following Thrombolysis?) Trial Study Group. SWIFT trial of delayed elective intervention versus conservative treatment after thrombolysis with anistreplase in acute myocardial infarction. Br Med J. 1991;302:555-560.
26.
The TIMI Research Group. Immediate versus delayed
catheterization and angioplasty following thrombolytic therapy for
acute myocardial infarction: TIMI II-A results. JAMA. 1988;260:2849-2858.
27.
Rogers WJ, Baim DS, Gore JM, Brown BG, Roberts R, Williams DO,
Chesebro JH, Babb JD, Sheehan FH, Wackers FJT, Zaret BL, Robertson TL,
Passamani ER, Ross R, Knatterud GL, Braunwald E, for the TIMI II-A
Investigators. Comparison of immediate invasive, delayed invasive, and
conservative strategies after tissue-type plasminogen activator:
results of the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Phase II-A
Trial. Circulation. 1990;81:1457-1476.
28.
Califf RM, Topol EJ, Stack RS, Ellis SG, George BS, Kereiakes
DJ, Samaha JK, Worley SJ, Anderson JL, Harrelson-Woodlief L, Wall TC,
Phillips HR, Abbottsmith CW, Candela RJ, Flanagan WH, Sasahara AA,
Mantell SJ, Lee KL, for the TAMI Study Group. Evaluation of combining
thrombolytic therapy and timing of cardiac catheterization in acute
myocardial infarction. Circulation. 1991;83:1543-1556.
29. Topol EJ, Califf RM, George BS, Kereiakes DJ, Abbottsmith CW, Candela RJ, Lee KL, Pitt B, Stack RS, O'Neil WW, the Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction Study Group. A randomized trial of immediate versus delayed elective angioplasty after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator in acute myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 1987;317:581-588. [Abstract]
30.
Ellis SG, Mooney MR, George BS, Ribeiro da Silva EE, Talley D,
Flanagan WH, Topol EJ. Randomized trial of late elective angioplasty
versus conservative management for patients with residual stenoses
after thrombolytic treatment of myocardial infarction.
Circulation. 1992;86:1400-1406.
31. Belenkie I, Knudtson ML, Roth DL, Hansen JL, Traboulsi M, Hall CA, Manyari D, Filipchuck NG, Schnurr LP, Rosenal TW, Smith ER. Relation between flow grade after thrombolytic therapy and the effect of angioplasty on left ventricular function: a prospective randomized trial. Am Heart J. 1991;121:407-416. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
32.
Begg CB, Berlin JA. Publication bias and dissemination of
clinical research. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1989;81:107-115.
33. Iyengar S, Greenhouse JB. Selection models and the file drawer problem. Stat Sci. 1988;3:109-117.
34.
Fleiss JL, Bigger JT, McDermott M, Miller JP, Moon T, Moss AJ,
Oakes D, Rolnitzky LM, Therneau TM. Nonfatal myocardial infarction is,
by itself, an inappropriate end point in clinical trials in cardiology.
Circulation. 1990;81:684-685.
35. Yusuf S, Peto R, Lewis JA, Collins R, Sleight P. Beta blockade during and after myocardial infarction: an overview of the randomized trials. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 1985;27:335-371. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
36. Antiplatelet Trialists' Collaboration. Secondary prevention of vascular disease by prolonged antiplatelet treatment. Br Med J. 1988;296:320-331.
37. Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group (EBCTCG). Treatment of Early Breast Cancer. Worldwide Evidence 1985-1990. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press; 1990.
38. Mantel N, Haenszel W. Statistical aspects of the analysis of data from retrospective studies of disease. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1959;22:719-748.
39. Dzavik V, Beanlands DS, Davies RF, Ruddy TD, Marquis JF. Beneficial effect of successful late PTCA on LV ejection fraction in patients with a recent infarct related coronary artery occlusion. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1992;19:229A. Abstract.
40. Roberts RH, Glenn SP, Balcon R. Should we catheterize patients who are asymptomatic following thrombolysis? Data from the LIFT study registry. Eur Heart J. 1993;14:74. Abstract.
41. O'Neill W, Timmis GC, Bourdillon PD, Lai P, Ganghadarhan V, Walton J, Ramos R, Laufer N, Gordon S, Schork MA, Pitt B. A prospective randomized clinical trial of intracoronary streptokinase versus coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 1986;314:812-818. [Abstract]
42. DeWood MA, Fisher MJ, for the Spokane Heart Research Group. Direct PTCA versus intravenous rtPA in acute myocardial infarction: preliminary results from a prospective randomized trial. Circulation. 1989;80(suppl II):II-418. Abstract.
43.
Grines CL, Browne KF, Marco J, Rothbaum D, Stone GW,
O'Keefe
J, Overlie P, Donohue B, Chelliah N, Timmis GC, Vlietstra RE,
Strzelecki M, Puchrowicz-Ochocki S, O'Neill WW for the Primary
Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction Study Group. A comparison of
immediate angioplasty with thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial
infarction. N Engl J Med. 1993;328:673-679.
44.
Zjistra F, Jan de Boer M, Hoorntje JCA, Reiffers S, Reiber
JHC, Suryapranata H. A comparison of immediate coronary angioplasty
with intravenous streptokinase in acute myocardial infarction. N
Engl J Med. 1993;328:680-684.
45. De Boer M, Hoorntje J, Suryapranata H, Zijlstra F. Coronary angioplasty results in a lower rate of recurrent infarction and death when compared with streptokinase in patients with a myocardial infarction. Circulation. 1993;88(suppl I):I-106. Abstract.
46.
Gibbons RJ, Holmes DR, Reeder GS, Bailey KR, Hopfenspirger MR,
Gersh BJ, for the Mayo Coronary Care Unit and Catheterization
Laboratory Groups. Immediate angioplasty compared with the
administration of a thrombolytic agent followed by conservative
treatment for myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 1993;328:685-691.
47. Ribeiro EE, Silva LA, Carneiro R, D'Oliveira LG, Gasquez A, Jose GA, Tavares JR, Petrizzo A, Torossian S, Duprat R, Buffolo E, Ellis SG. Randomized trial of direct coronary angioplasty versus intravenous streptokinase in acute myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1993;22:376-380. [Abstract]
48. Elizaga J, Garcia EJ, Delcan JL, Garcia-Robles JA, Bueno H, Soriano J, Abeytua M, Lopez-Bescos L. Primary coronary angioplasty versus systemic thrombolysis in acute anterior myocardial infarction: in-hospital results from a prospective randomized trial. Circulation. 1993;88(suppl I):I-411. Abstract.
49.
The GUSTO Angiographic Investigators. The effect of tissue
plasminogen activator, streptokinase, or both on coronary-artery
patency, ventricular function, and survival after acute myocardial
infarction. N Engl J Med. 1993;329:1615-1622.
50.
Ritchie JL, Philips KA, Luft HS. Coronary angioplasty:
statewide experience in California. Circulation. 1993;88:2735-2743.
51. Weaver WD, Litwin PE, Martin JS, for the Myocardial Infarction, Triage, and Intervention Project Investigators. Use of direct angioplasty for treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction in hospitals with and without on-site cardiac surgery. Circulation. 1993;88(pt 1):2067-2075.
52. Yusuf S, Zucker D, Peduzzi P, Fisher LD, Takaro T, Kennedy JW, Davis K, Killip T, Passamani E, Norris R, et al. Effect of coronary artery bypass graft surgery on survival: overview of 10-year results from randomised trials by the Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Trialists Collaboration. Lancet. 1994;344:563-570. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
53. Spiecker M, Erbel R, Diefenbach C, Haidasch M, Treese N, Hendrichs KJ, Rupprecht HJ, Pop T, Iversen S, Oelert H, Schicketanz KH, Meyer J. Long-time follow-up after myocardial infarction treated with thrombolysis and acute or elective revascularisation. Med Klin. 1992;87:343-349. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
54. Lenderink T, van Es GA, Nijssen K, Arnold AER, Van de Werf F, Simoons ML, for the European Cooperative Study Group. Risk assessment and longterm survival after thrombolytic therapy. Eur Heart J. 1993;14(suppl ii-iv):107. Abstract.
55. Fibrinolytic Therapy Trialists' (FTT) Collaborative Group. Indications for fibrinolytic therapy in suspected acute myocardial infarction: collaborative overview of early mortality and major morbidity results from all randomised trials of more than 1000 patients. Lancet. 1994;343:311-322. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
56. Arnold AER, Serruys PW, Rutsch W, Simoons ML, de Bono DP, Tijssen JGP, Lubsen J, Verstraete M, for the European Cooperative Study Group. Immediate percutaneous coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction might be beneficial if reocclusion and reinfarction are prevented. In: Arnold AER, ed. Benefits and Risks of Thrombolysis for Acute Myocardial Infarction. Den Haag, the Netherlands: CIP–Gegevens Koninklijke Bibliotheek; 1990:67-88.
57. Michels KB. Quo-vadis meta-analysis? A potentially dangerous tool if used without adequate rules. In: DeVita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds. Important Advances in Oncology. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott; 1992:243-248.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  G. Ndrepepa, A. Schomig, and A. Kastrati The Only Better Alternative to Rescue Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Is Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., July 7, 2009; 54(2): 127 - 129. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. G. Lindholm, S. Boesgaard, J. J. Thune, H. Kelbaek, H. R. Andersen, L. Kober, and DANAMI-2 investigators Percutaneous coronary intervention for acute MI does not prevent in-hospital development of cardiogenic shock compared to fibrinolysis Eur J Heart Fail, July 1, 2008; 10(7): 668 - 674. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. L. Brown, T. M. Sundt III, and B. J. Gersh Indications for Revascularization Card. Surg. Adult, January 1, 2008; 3(2008): 551 - 572. [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. Sorajja, B. J. Gersh, D. A. Cox, M. G. McLaughlin, P. Zimetbaum, C. Costantini, T. Stuckey, J. E. Tcheng, R. Mehran, A. J. Lansky, et al. Impact of multivessel disease on reperfusion success and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction Eur. Heart J., July 2, 2007; 28(14): 1709 - 1716. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 U. Stenestrand, J. Lindback, L. Wallentin, and for the RIKS-HIA Registry Long-term outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention vs prehospital and in-hospital thrombolysis for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. JAMA, October 11, 2006; 296(14): 1749 - 1756. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.-P. Collet, G. Montalescot, M. Le May, M. Borentain, and A. Gershlick Percutaneous Coronary Intervention After Fibrinolysis: A Multiple Meta-Analyses Approach According to the Type of Strategy J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., October 3, 2006; 48(7): 1326 - 1335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. B. Borden and D. P. Faxon Facilitated Percutaneous Coronary Intervention J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 19, 2006; 48(6): 1120 - 1128. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. J. Kereiakes and E. M. Antman Clinical Guidelines and Practice: In Search of the Truth J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 19, 2006; 48(6): 1129 - 1135. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Part 8: Stabilization of the Patient With Acute Coronary Syndromes Circulation, December 13, 2005; 112(24_suppl): IV-89 - IV-110. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. J. Cantor, F. Brunet, C. P. Ziegler, A. Kiss, and L. J. Morrison Immediate angioplasty after thrombolysis: a systematic review Can. Med. Assoc. J., December 6, 2005; 173(12): 1473 - 1481. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Part 5: Acute Coronary Syndromes Circulation, November 29, 2005; 112(22_suppl): III-55 - III-72. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. K. Bilge, Y. Nisanci, E. Yilmaz, B. Ozben, A. Oncul, F. Mercanoglu, and M. Meric Effects of Percutaneous Coronary Thrombectomywith the X-Sizer Catheter on Epicardial Flow and Microvascular Function in Acute Coronary Syndromes Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis, October 1, 2005; 11(4): 461 - 466. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. J. Cantor and L. J. Morrison Guidelines for STEMI Can. Med. Assoc. J., May 24, 2005; 172(11): 1425 - 1425. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. J.J. McClelland, C. G. Owens, S. J. Walsh, D. McCarty, T. Mathew, M. Stevenson, H. Gracey, M. M. Khan, and A.A. J. Adgey Percutaneous coronary intervention and 1 year survival in patients treated with fibrinolytic therapy for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction Eur. Heart J., March 2, 2005; 26(6): 544 - 548. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L Bhatia, G J Clesham, and D R Turner Clinical implications of ST-segment non-resolution after thrombolysis for myocardial infarction J R Soc Med, December 1, 2004; 97(12): 566 - 570. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Ilkay, I. Karaca, M. Akbulut, A E. Kilicoglu, M. Yavuzkir, and N. Arslan Excimer Laser Coronary Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, December 1, 2004; 12(4): 291 - 295. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Y. Takada, M. Hashimoto, J. Kasahara, K. Aihara, and K. Fukunaga Cytoprotective Effect of Sodium Orthovanadate on Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Injury in the Rat Heart Involves Akt Activation and Inhibition of Fodrin Breakdown and Apoptosis J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., December 1, 2004; 311(3): 1249 - 1255. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Scheller, B. Hennen, B. Hammer, J. Walle, C. Hofer, V. Hilpert, H. Winter, G. Nickenig, M. Bohm, and SIAM III Study Group Beneficial effects of immediate stenting after thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 20, 2003; 42(4): 634 - 641. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. K. Natarajan and S. Yusuf Primary angioplasty for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Ready for prime time? Can. Med. Assoc. J., July 8, 2003; 169(1): 32 - 35. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. M. Sundt III, B. J. Gersh, and H. C. Smith Indications for Coronary Revascularization Card. Surg. Adult, January 1, 2003; 2(2003): 541 - 559. [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. T. Willerson Myocardial Revascularization with Cardiologic Interventional Devices Card. Surg. Adult, January 1, 2003; 2(2003): 561 - 580. [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P Tyden, O Hansen, G Engstrom, B Hedblad, and L Janzon Myocardial infarction in an urban population: worse long term prognosis for patients from less affluent residential areas J Epidemiol Community Health, October 1, 2002; 56(10): 785 - 790. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.-i. Kotani, S. Nanto, G. S. Mintz, M. Kitakaze, T. Ohara, T. Morozumi, S. Nagata, and M. Hori Plaque Gruel of Atheromatous Coronary Lesion May Contribute to the No-Reflow Phenomenon in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Circulation, September 24, 2002; 106(13): 1672 - 1677. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A. Brouwer, P. J.P.C. van den Bergh, W. R.M. Aengevaeren, G. Veen, H. E. Luijten, D. P. Hertzberger, A. J. van Boven, R. P.J.W. Vromans, G. J.H. Uijen, and F. W.A. Verheugt Aspirin Plus Coumarin Versus Aspirin Alone in the Prevention of Reocclusion After Fibrinolysis for Acute Myocardial Infarction: Results of the Antithrombotics in the Prevention of Reocclusion In Coronary Thrombolysis (APRICOT)-2 Trial Circulation, August 6, 2002; 106(6): 659 - 665. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. Cohen, D. G. Murphy, and J. Williams Review of the Current ACS Practice Guideline to Develop an Ischemic Chest Pain Protocol Journal of Pharmacy Practice, June 1, 2002; 15(3): 250 - 266. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y. Elad, W. J. French, D. M. Shavelle, L. S. Parsons, M. J. Sada, N. R. Every, and Participants in the National Registry of Myocardia Primary angioplasty and selection bias inpatients presenting late (>12 h) after onset of chest pain and ST elevation myocardial infarction J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., March 6, 2002; 39(5): 826 - 833. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Hamada, T. Nishiue, S. Nakamura, T. Sugiura, H. Kamihata, H. Miyoshi, Y. Imuro, and T. Iwasaka TIMI frame count immediately after primary coronary angioplasty as a predictor of functional recovery in patients with TIMI 3 reperfused acute myocardial infarction J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 1, 2001; 38(3): 666 - 671. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A K GITT and J SENGES The patient with acute myocardial infarction who does not receive reperfusion treatment Heart, September 1, 2001; 86(3): 243 - 245. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S.G. Priori, E. Aliot, C. Blomstrom-Lundqvist, L. Bossaert, G. Breithardt, P. Brugada, A.J. Camm, R. Cappato, S.M. Cobbe, C. Di Mario, et al. Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death of the European Society of Cardiology Eur. Heart J., August 2, 2001; 22(16): 1374 - 1450. [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. C. Smith Jr, J. T. Dove, A. K. Jacobs, J. Ward Kennedy, D. Kereiakes, M. J. Kern, R. E. Kuntz, J. J. Popma, H. V. Schaff, D. O. Williams, et al. ACC/AHA guidelines for percutaneous coronary intervention (revision of the 1993 PTCA guidelines): A report of the American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines (Committee to revise the 1993 guidelines for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) endorsed by the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., June 15, 2001; 37(8): 2239 - 2239. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P Otasevic, A N Neskovic, Z Popovic, A Vlahovic, D Bojic, M Bojic, and A D Popovic Short early filling deceleration time on day 1 after acute myocardial infarction is associated with short and long term left ventricular remodelling Heart, May 1, 2001; 85(5): 527 - 532. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. S. Hochman, L. A. Sleeper, H. D. White, V. Dzavik, S. C. Wong, V. Menon, J. G. Webb, R. Steingart, M. H. Picard, M. A. Menegus, et al. One-Year Survival Following Early Revascularization for Cardiogenic Shock JAMA, January 10, 2001; 285(2): 190 - 192. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
O S Mortensen, J K Madsen, T Haghfelt, P Grande, K Saunamäki, S Haunsø, E Hjelms, H Arendrup, and t. D. study group Health related quality of life after conservative or invasive treatment of inducible postinfarction ischaemia Heart, November 1, 2000; 84(5): 535 - 540. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. L. Hannan, M. J. Racz, D. T. Arani, T. J. Ryan, G. Walford, and B. D. McCallister Short- and long-term mortality for patients undergoing primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., October 1, 2000; 36(4): 1194 - 1201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A G C Sutton, P G Campbell, E D Grech, D J A Price, A Davies, J A Hall, M J Stewart, and M A de Belder Failure of thrombolysis: experience with a policy of early angiography and rescue angioplasty for electrocardiographic evidence of failed thrombolysis Heart, August 1, 2000; 84(2): 197 - 204. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. C Bucher, P. Hengstler, C. Schindler, and G. H Guyatt Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty versus medical treatment for non-acute coronary heart disease: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials BMJ, July 8, 2000; 321(7253): 73 - 77. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Maillard, M. Hamon, K. Khalife, P. G. Steg, F. Beygui, J.-L. Guermonprez, C. M. Spaulding, J.-M. Boulenc, J. Lipiecki, A. Lafont, et al. A comparison of systematic stenting and conventional balloon angioplasty during primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., June 1, 2000; 35(7): 1729 - 1736. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Akasaka, K. Yoshida, T. Kawamoto, S. Kaji, Y. Ueda, A. Yamamuro, T. Takagi, and T. Hozumi Relation of Phasic Coronary Flow Velocity Characteristics With TIMI Perfusion Grade and Myocardial Recovery After Primary Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty and Rescue Stenting Circulation, May 23, 2000; 101(20): 2361 - 2367. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
ReneG. Favaloro Surgical treatment of acute myocardial infarction J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., April 1, 2000; 35(5_Suppl_B): 18B - 24B. [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Tackling myocardial infarction DTB, March 1, 2000; 38(3): 17 - 22. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Yano, S. Kojima, T. Sugi, Y. Matsumoto, M. Kuramochi, and Y. Yoshitomi Long-Term Follow-up of Primary Stenting with Coil Stent in Acute Myocardial Infarction Angiology, February 1, 2000; 51(2): 107 - 114. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R Zahn, R Schiele, K Seidl, K E Hauptmann, T Voigtlander, H-J Rupprecht, M Gottwik, H G Glunz, and J Senges Spectrum of reperfusion strategies and factors influencing the use of primary angioplasty in patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to hospitals with the facilities to perform primary angioplasty Heart, October 1, 1999; 82(4): 420 - 425. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. S. Hochman, L. A. Sleeper, J. G. Webb, T. A. Sanborn, H. D. White, J. D. Talley, C. E. Buller, A. K. Jacobs, J. N. Slater, J. Col, et al. Early Revascularization in Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock N. Engl. J. Med., August 26, 1999; 341(9): 625 - 634. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. D. Frances, A. S. Go, K. W. Dauterman, K. Deosaransingh, D. L. Jung, S. Gettner, J. M. Newman, B. M. Massie, and W. S. Browner Outcome Following Acute Myocardial Infarction: Are Differences Among Physician Specialties the Result of Quality of Care or Case Mix? Arch Intern Med, July 12, 1999; 159(13): 1429 - 1436. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. B. Batchelor, E. D. Peterson, D. B. Mark, J. D. Knight, C. B. Granger, P. W. Armstrong, and R. M. Califf A comparison of U.S. and Canadian cardiac catheterization practices in detecting severe coronary artery disease after myocardial infarction: efficiency, yield and long-term implications J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., July 1, 1999; 34(1): 12 - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. J. Scanlon, D. P. Faxon, A.-M. Audet, B. Carabello, G. J. Dehmer, K. A. Eagle, R. D. Legako, D. F. Leon, J. A. Murray, S. E. Nissen, et al. ACC/AHA guidelines for coronary angiography: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee on Coronary Angiography) developed in collaboration with the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., May 1, 1999; 33(6): 1756 - 1824. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Garcia, J. Elizaga, N. Perez-Castellano, J. A. Serrano, J. Soriano, M. Abeytua, J. Botas, R. Rubio, E. Lopez de Sa, J. L. Lopez-Sendon, et al. Primary angioplasty versus systemic thrombolysis in anterior myocardial infarction J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., March 1, 1999; 33(3): 605 - 611. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. T. O'Connor, H. B. Quinton, N. D. Traven, L. D. Ramunno, T. A. Dodds, T. A. Marciniak, and J. E. Wennberg Geographic Variation in the Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction: The Cooperative Cardiovascular Project JAMA, February 17, 1999; 281(7): 627 - 633. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Ueda, S. Sakaki, I. Nochide, Y. Kumon, K. Kohno, and S. Ohta Angioplasty after Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis for Acute Occlusion of Intracranial Arteries Stroke, December 1, 1998; 29(12): 2568 - 2574. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Horie, M. Takahashi, K. Minai, M. Izumi, A. Takaoka, M. Nozawa, H. Yokohama, T. Fujita, T. Sakamoto, O. Kito, et al. Long-Term Beneficial Effect of Late Reperfusion for Acute Anterior Myocardial Infarction With Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty Circulation, December 1, 1998; 98(22): 2377 - 2382. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. V. Barron, L. J. Bowlby, T. Breen, W. J. Rogers, J. G. Canto, Y. Zhang, A. J. Tiefenbrunn, and W. D. Weaver Use of Reperfusion Therapy for Acute Myocardial Infarction in the United States : Data From the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction 2 Circulation, March 31, 1998; 97(12): 1150 - 1156. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. K Teo Recent advances: Cardiology BMJ, March 21, 1998; 316(7135): 911 - 915. [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Eldar, M. Canetti, Z. Rotstein, V. Boyko, S. Gottlieb, E. Kaplinsky, and S. Behar Significance of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Thrombolytic Era Circulation, March 17, 1998; 97(10): 965 - 970. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. D. Weaver, R. J. Simes, A. Betriu, C. L. Grines, F. Zijlstra, E. Garcia, L. Grinfeld, R. J. Gibbons, E. E. Ribeiro, M. A. DeWood, et al. Comparison of Primary Coronary Angioplasty and Intravenous Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Quantitative Review JAMA, December 17, 1997; 278(23): 2093 - 2098. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Yusuf and J. Pogue Primary Angioplasty Compared With Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Myocardial Infarction JAMA, December 17, 1997; 278(23): 2110 - 2111. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A. Hlatky Evaluation of Chest Pain in the Emergency Department N. Engl. J. Med., December 4, 1997; 337(23): 1687 - 1689. [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
I F Purcell, N Newall, and M Farrer Change in ST segment elevation 60 minutes after thrombolytic initiation predicts clinical outcome as accurately as later electrocardiographic changes Heart, November 1, 1997; 78(5): 465 - 471. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. W SMYTH and J. M ELLIOTT Treating coronaries, at home or away? Heart, October 1, 1997; 78(4): 329 - 330. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coro A Clinical Trial Comparing Primary Coronary Angioplasty with Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Acute Myocardial Infarction N. Engl. J. Med., June 5, 1997; 336(23): 1621 - 1628. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Collins, R. Peto, C. Baigent, and P. Sleight Aspirin, Heparin, and Fibrinolytic Therapy in Suspected Acute Myocardial Infarction N. Engl. J. Med., March 20, 1997; 336(12): 847 - 860. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. R. Every, L. S. Parsons, M. Hlatky, J. S. Martin, W. D. Weaver, and The Myocardial Infarction Triage and Intervention A Comparison of Thrombolytic Therapy with Primary Coronary Angioplasty for Acute Myocardial Infarction N. Engl. J. Med., October 24, 1996; 335(17): 1253 - 1260. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. A. Bittl Advances in Coronary Angioplasty N. Engl. J. Med., October 24, 1996; 335(17): 1290 - 1302. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. A. Lange, L. D. Hillis, C. L. Grines, R. A. Lange, L. D. Hillis, and C. L. Grines Should Thrombolysis or Primary Angioplasty Be the Treatment of Choice for Acute Myocardial Infarction? N. Engl. J. Med., October 24, 1996; 335(17): 1311 - 1312. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. Pasceri, D. S. Pine, and T. A. Ports Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Acute Myocardial Infarction N. Engl. J. Med., October 24, 1996; 335(17): 1320 - 1320. [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Pilote, D. P. Miller, R. M. Califf, J. S. Rao, W. D. Weaver, and E. J. Topol Determinants of the Use of Coronary Angiography and Revascularization after Thrombolysis for Acute Myocardial Infarction N. Engl. J. Med., October 17, 1996; 335(16): 1198 - 1205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Stubbs, P. Collinson, D. Moseley, T. Greenwood, and M. Noble Prognostic Significance of Admission Troponin T Concentrations in Patients With Myocardial Infarction Circulation, September 15, 1996; 94(6): 1291 - 1297. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Bode, R. W. Smalling, G. Berg, C. Burnett, G. Lorch, J. M. Kalbfleisch, R. Chernoff, L. G. Christie, R. L. Feldman, A. A. Seals, et al. Randomized Comparison of Coronary Thrombolysis Achieved With Double-Bolus Reteplase (Recombinant Plasminogen Activator) and Front-Loaded, Accelerated Alteplase (Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator) in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Circulation, September 1, 1996; 94(5): 891 - 898. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. M. Lanzkron and W. R. Bell State-of-the-Art Review : Management of Patients Who Require Invasive Procedures Immediately Following Thrombolytic Therapy Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis, July 1, 1996; 2(3): 158 - 163. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Gawaz, F.-J. Neumann, I. Ott, A. Schiessler, and A. Schomig Platelet Function in Acute Myocardial Infarction Treated With Direct Angioplasty Circulation, January 15, 1996; 93(2): 229 - 237. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||