Emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the care of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

There is general consensus that emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred treatment for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), so long as it can be delivered in a timely fashion, by an experienced' operator and cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) team. STEMI is both a functional and structural issue. Although it has been recognized since the work of pioneering cardiologists and surgeons in Spokane, Washington, that approximately 88% of patients presenting within 6 hours of onset of STEMI have an occluded coronary artery, it is the pathophysiology of myocardial necrosis, and the varied consequences of necrosis that characterize STEMI. Accordingly, experience' of both primary operator and cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) crew, in performing an emergency PCI for STEMI, are as much a function of experience with the treatment of complex MI patients, as experience with coronary intervention. Rapidly achieving normal coronary artery flow, at both the macro and micro vascular levels, is the recognized key to aborting the otherwise progressive wavefront' of myocardial necrosis. The time urgency of decisions (Time is muscle') make emergency PCI for patients with on-going necrosis, more like emergency room (ER) care, than like most in-hospital or outpatient care. In general, most patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are currently thought to have plaque rupture and/or erosion with subsequent thrombosis and embolization. Consequences of thrombo-embolism, such as slow flow' or no-reflow' are in addition to, the structural (anatomic) considerations of PCI in stable patients (such as ostial location; bifurcation involvement; heavy calcification; tortuosity of lesion or access to it; length of disease; caliber of infarct-artery; etc.). Good quality studies have provided strong support for the specific added value of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (especially abciximab), dual antiplatelet therapy (the addition of the thienopyridine, clopidogrel, to aspirin use), and bare-metal stents (BMS), for a broad range of STEMI patients. The added value of drug-eluting stents (DES) to bare-metal stents (BMS), primarily in terms of reducing restenosis and repeat revascularization, is supported by several randomized trials, and a number of registries, despite its being off-label' from a regulatory standpoint. The recognition of late stent thrombosis (LST) has raised additional issues, in choosing between these two options for specific STEMI patients. The added value of a number of other mechanical approaches to coronary thrombus, such as thrombus removal devices, and/or distal protection, are more controversial, and perhaps, patient specific. Whether intravascular ultrasound guidance (IVUS) for stent use should be used for the majority, or even a specific minority, of STEMI patients, is also controversial; late-stent thrombosis provides a counter-point. The advantages of developing a network approach to STEMI care, so as to optimize the number of patients receiving timely reperfusion, have been demonstrated in Prague, Denmark, and Minneapolis, among many places. The benefits of both bivalirudin (anti-thrombin drug with efficacy against clot-bound thrombin, which does not appear to stimulate platelets) and abciximab (glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor which is antibody to platelet receptors), as PCI adjuncts generally, and for STEMI patients, in particular, are supported by multiple trials. The specific choice of administering the bolus dose of either, or both, drugs via intra-coronary (IC) injection follows the precedents' of IC thrombolytics, and IC small-vessel vasodilators for no-reflow', but it has not been tested by prospective, randomized trials. Although rapid reperfusion is the first objective, one cannot ignore the other components of the oxygen delivery chain, and the importance of each of these components to on-going delivery of oxygen to all vital organs. A balance must be struck between doing those control' things which serve to stabilize other vital components of the oxygen-delivery chain, without digressing too long from the job of re-establishing brisk coronary flow. The clinical and angiographic heterogeneity of STEMI patients and the array of available therapeutic approaches make it impossible to obtain specific randomized trial direction for many of the clinical decisions in an individual emergency PCI for STEMI. There are a range of reasonable/ appropriate therapeutic choices for a given emergent PCI performed by multiple experienced and competent operators. The treatment of STEMI, and high-risk non-STEMI, patients, by means of emergent PCI, is among the most challenging and rewarding arenas in contemporary medicine.

Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor therapy in non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

Platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors prevent fibrinogen binding and platelet aggregation. They decrease ischemic complications associated with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes and percutaneous coronary intervention. Meta-analyses of 6 randomized trials of parenteral GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients with acute coronary syndromes suggest a significant reduction in death and myocardial infarction in high risk patients. These include patients undergoing early percutaneous coronary intervention or those with high TIMI risk score, elevated troponin values, or diabetes mellitus. Despite guideline recommendations supporting therapy for these indications, only a minority of appropriate candidates are being treated. The risk of major bleeding is small; thrombocytopenia can result from abciximab therapy. Optimal dosing strategies continue to evolve.

Predictors of length of stay after coronary stenting.

BACKGROUND: Postprocedure length of stay (LOS) remains an important determinant of medical costs after coronary stenting. Variables that predict LOS in this setting have not been well characterized. METHODS: We evaluated 359 consecutive patients who underwent coronary stenting with antiplatelet therapy. Sequential multiple linear regression (MLR) models were constructed with use of 4 types of variables to predict log-transformed LOS: preprocedure, intraprocedure, and postprocedure factors and adverse outcomes. RESULTS: Preprocedure factors alone explained more than one third of the variability in postprocedure LOS (adjusted R(2) = 0.37). The addition of procedural variables added little to the model (adjusted R(2) = 0.39). Entering nonoutcome postprocedure variables significantly enhanced the predictive capacity of the model, explaining more than half the variability in postprocedure LOS (adjusted R(2) = 0.54). In the final model, addition of outcome variables increased its predictive capacity only slightly (adjusted R(2) = 0.61). In this model, significant preprocedure factors included: myocardial infarction (MI) within 24 hours, MI within 1 to 30 days, women with peripheral vascular disease, intravenous heparin, and chronic atrial fibrillation. High-risk intervention was the only significant intraprocedure variable. Significant postprocedure factors included periprocedure ischemia; cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack; treatment with intravenous heparin or nitroglycerin or intra-aortic balloon pump; and need for blood transfusion. Significant adverse outcomes included contrast nephropathy, gastrointestinal bleeding, arrhythmia, vascular complication, and repeat angiography. CONCLUSION: This prediction model identifies a number of potentially reversible factors responsible for prolonging LOS and may enable the development of more accurate risk-adjusted methods with which to improve or compare care.

Bivalirudin for percutaneous coronary intervention and in acute coronary syndromes.

This review focuses on the use of bivalirudin as a replacement anticoagulant for heparin in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, or who are being treated for unstable angina pectoris, ST-elevation, or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Potential advantages of bivalirudin include a lack of dependence on antithrombin III for anticoagulant activity, the ability to inactivate both fibrin-bound and soluble thrombin, a lack of aggregatory effects on platelets, a predictable anticoagulant response without monitoring, and a wider therapeutic window. Clinical trial results to date suggest that bivlirudin is at least as effective as heparin with superior safety due to lower bleeding rates.

Lack of progress in cardiogenic shock: lessons from the GUSTO trials.

AIMS: We used the GUSTO-I and GUSTO-III databases to evaluate our performance in treating cardiogenic shock patients over much of the 1990s. METHODS AND RESULTS: GUSTO-I (1990-1993) and GUSTO-III (1995-1997) prospectively identified all patients with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction. Demographics, clinical presentation and outcomes for cardiogenic shock patients in the two trials were compared. Only patients enrolled with cardiogenic shock in countries common to both trials were included in these analysis. The 695 patients with cardiogenic shock in GUSTO-III were compared with the 2814 patients with cardiogenic shock in GUSTO-I. GUSTO-III patients were older (P=0.0001) and more likely to be diabetic (P=0.009) and hypertensive (P=0.025). They had a higher Killip class (P=0.002) and significantly greater index anterior infarction than cardiogenic shock patients enrolled in GUSTO-I. Time to treatment, presentation heart rate, and diastolic blood pressure were similar; however, systolic blood pressure at presentation was higher among GUSTO-III patients (P=0.002). Rates of coronary angiography, pulmonary artery catheterization, and mechanical ventilation declined in GUSTO-III compared with GUSTO-I (P=0.001); rates of angioplasty and bypass surgery were similar. Cardiogenic shock mortality in GUSTO-III was significantly higher than in GUSTO-I (62 vs 54%, P=0.001), as were rates of reinfarction (14 vs 11%, P=0.013) and recurrent ischaemia (35 vs 27%, P=0.00001). Mortality at non-U.S. sites (68 and 64%) was higher than at U.S. sites (53 and 50%) in both GUSTO-I and GUSTO-III studies, respectively. Angioplasty, bypass surgery, and balloon pump rates were lower for non-U.S. patients. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiogenic shock continues to be associated with high mortality in thrombolytic-treated patients. Lower mortality observed in the U.S.A. supports consideration for percutaneous and surgical revascularization.

Ischemic complications after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

The ischemic complications ofpercutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) include abrupt closure, which occurs in 2% to 10% of patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Periprocedural myocardial infarction due to side branch occlusion or embolization of platelet aggregates or thrombus occurs in 5% to 20% of patients. Patients with acute coronary syndromes, older age, and complex lesions are at greater risk of periprocedural complications. Technical advances, primarily stenting, are useful in the prevention and management of acute closure, but are also accompanied by thrombotic complications. It remains to be seen whether the new antithrombin agents reduce the rate of periprocedural complications if used in combination with aspirin and new antiplatelet therapies. These new antiplatelet agents (ticlopidine, clopidogrel, abciximab, eptifibatide, and tirofiban) reduce the rate of ischemic complications and have become standard adjunctive therapy for patients who undergo PTCA.

Impact of thrombolysis, intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation, and their combination in cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction: a report from the SHOCK Trial Registry. SHould we emergently revascularize Occluded Coronaries for cardiogenic shocK?

OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate the potential benefit of thrombolytic therapy (TT) and intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation (IABP) on in-hospital mortality rates of patients enrolled in a prospective, multi-center Registry of acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS). BACKGROUND: Retrospective studies suggest that patients suffering from CS due to MI have lower in-hospital mortality rates when IABP support is added to TT. This hypothesis has not heretofore been examined prospectively in a study devoted to CS. METHODS: Of 1,190 patients enrolled at 36 participating centers, 884 patients had CS due to predominant left ventricular (LV) failure. Excluding 26 patients with IABP placed prior to shock onset and 2 patients with incomplete data, 856 patients were evaluated regarding TT and IABP utilization. Treatments, selected by local physicians, fell into four categories: no TT, no IABP (33%; n = 285); IABP only (33%; n = 279); TT only (15%; n = 132); and TT and IABP (19%; n = 160). RESULTS: Patients in CS treated with TT had a lower in-hospital mortality than those who did not receive TT (54% vs. 64%, p = 0.005), and those selected for IABP had a lower in-hospital mortality than those who did not receive IABP (50% vs. 72%, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, there was a significant difference in in-hospital mortality among the four treatment groups: TT + IABP (47%), IABP only (52%), TT only (63%), no TT, no IABP (77%) (p < 0.0001). Patients receiving early IABP (< or = 6 h after thrombolytic therapy, n = 72) had in-hospital mortality similar to those with late IABP (53% vs. 41%, n = 64, respectively, p = 0.172). Revascularization rates differed among the four groups: no TT, no IABP (18%); IABP only (70%); TT only (20%); TT and IABP (68%, p < 0.0001); this influenced in-hospital mortality significantly (39% with revascularization vs. 78% without revascularization, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of patients in cardiogenic shock due to predominant LV failure with TT, IABP and revascularization by PTCA/CABG was associated with lower in-hospital mortality rates than standard medical therapy in this Registry. For hospitals without revascularization capability, a strategy of early TT and IABP followed by immediate transfer for PTCA or CABG may be appropriate. However, selection bias is evident and further investigation is required.

Comparison of artificial neural networks with logistic regression in prediction of in-hospital death after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to compare artificial neural networks (ANNs) with logistic regression for prediction of in-hospital death after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and to assess the impact of guiding initial ANN variable selection with univariate analysis. BACKGROUND: ANNs can detect complex patterns within data. Criticisms include the unpredictability of variable selection. They have not previously been applied to outcomes modeling for percutaneous coronary interventions. METHODS: A database of consecutive (n = 3019) percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures from an academic tertiary referral center between July 1994 and July 1997 was used. An ANN was developed for 38 variables (unguided model) (n = 1554). A second model was developed with predictors from an univariate analysis (guided model). Both were compared with a logistic regression model developed from the same database. Model validation was performed on independent data (n = 1465). Model predictive accuracy was assessed by the area under receiver operating characteristic curves. Goodness of fit was assessed with the Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic. RESULTS: Sixty unguided and guided ANNs were developed. Predictive accuracy and model calibration for all models were similar for training data but were significantly better for logistic regression for independent validation data. Overestimation of event rate in higher risk patients accounted for the majority of discrepancy in model calibration for the ANNs. This difference was partially amended by guiding variable selection. CONCLUSION: ANNs were able to model in-hospital death after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty when guiding variable selection. However, performance was not better than traditional modeling techniques. Further investigations are needed to understand the impact of this methodology on outcomes analysis.

IL-8 is an angiogenic factor in human coronary atherectomy tissue.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a CXC chemokine that induces the migration and proliferation of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, is a potent angiogenic factor that may play a role in atherosclerosis. Previously, IL-8 has been reported in atherosclerotic lesions and circulating macrophages from patients with atherosclerosis. Therefore, we sought to determine whether IL-8 plays a role in mediating angiogenic activity in atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Homogenates from 16 patients undergoing directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) and control samples from the internal mammary artery (IMA) of 7 patients undergoing bypass graft surgery were assessed for IL-8 content by specific ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization for IL-8 mRNA. The contribution of IL-8 to net angiogenic activity was assessed using the rat cornea micropocket assay and cultured cells. IL-8 expression was significantly elevated in DCA samples compared with IMA samples (1.71+/-0.6 versus 0.05+/-0.03 ng/mg of total protein; P<0.01). Positive immunolocalization of IL-8 was found exclusively in DCA tissue sections, and it correlated with the presence of factor VIII-related antigen. In situ reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction revealed the expression of IL-8 mRNA in DCA tissue. Corneal neovascular response, defined by ingrowth of capillary sprouts toward the implant, was markedly positive with DCA pellets, but no constitutive vessel ingrowth was seen with IMA specimens. Neutralizing IL-8 attenuated both the in vivo corneal neovascular response and the in vitro proliferation of cultured cells. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that, in human coronary atherosclerosis, IL-8 is an important mediator of angiogenesis and may contribute to plaque formation via its angiogenic properties.

Predictors of cardiogenic shock after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: This study characterized clinical factors predictive of cardiogenic shock developing after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock remains a common and ominous complication of AMI. By identifying patients at risk of developing shock, preventive measures may be implemented to avert its development. METHODS: We analyzed baseline variables associated with the development of shock after thrombolytic therapy in the Global Utilization of Streptikonase and Tissue-Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO-I) trial. Using a Cox proportional hazards model, we devised a scoring system predicting the risk of shock. This model was then validated in the Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO-III) cohort. RESULTS: Shock developed in 1,889 patients a median of 11.6 h after enrollment. The major factors associated with increased adjusted risk of shock were age (chi2 = 285, hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.47 [1.40, 1.53]), systolic blood pressure (chi2 = 280), heart rate (chi2 = 225) and Killip class (chi2 = 161, hazard ratio 1.70 [1.52, 1.90] and 2.95 [2.39, 3.63] for Killip II versus I and Killip III versus I, respectively) upon presentation. Together, these four variables accounted for >85% of the predictive information. These findings were transformed into an algorithm with a validated concordance index of 0.758. Applied to the GUSTO-III cohort, the four variables accounted for > 95% of the predictive information, and the validated concordance index was 0.796. CONCLUSIONS: A scoring system accurately predicts the risk of shock after thrombolytic therapy for AMI based primarily on the patient's age and physical examination on presentation.

Raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as adjunctive therapy to coronary artery revascularization.

Several studies shortly after the advent of coronary artery bypass surgery reported early atherosclerosis in saphenous vein grafts, and an association between dyslipidemia and graft occlusion. Lipid-lowering therapy in a number of trials resulted in reduced progression of atherosclerosis in vein grafts and fewer subsequent revascularization procedures. Presently, however, only a few patients are treated and reach target lipid levels. Percutaneous coronary interventions permit rapid relief of symptoms and ischemia, and return to full activity levels, but may not reduce the risk of death or nonfatal myocardial infarction in patients with chronic stable coronary artery disease. Whether optimal medical therapy, including aggressive lipid control, could decrease the need for some of these procedures is the subject of ongoing debate and research. Despite successful coronary artery revascularization, subsequent ischemic events continue to occur, supporting the requirement for successful secondary prevention interventions. Ultimately, optimal care of revascularization patients should include maximizing lipid profiles.

Cardiogenic shock in patients with acute ischemic syndromes with and without ST-segment elevation.

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock is usually considered a sequela of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. There are limited prospective data on the incidence and significance of shock in non-ST-segment elevation patients. This study assessed the incidence and outcomes of cardiogenic shock developing after enrollment among patients with and without ST-segment elevation in the Global Use of Strategies To Open Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO)-IIb trial. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 12,084 patients in GUSTO-IIb who did not present with cardiogenic shock, 4092 (34%) had and 7991 (66%) did not have ST-segment elevation on the enrollment ECG. Cardiogenic shock developed in 4.2% of ST-segment elevation patients compared with 2.5% of patients without ST-segment elevation (odds ratio, 0. 581; 95% CI, 0.472 to 0.715; P<0.001). Shock developed significantly later among patients without ST-segment elevation. There were significant differences in baseline characteristics between shock patients with and without ST-segment elevation: Patients without ST-segment elevation were older, more frequently had diabetes mellitus and 3-vessel disease, but had less TIMI grade 0 flow at angiography. Regardless of the initial ECG, mortality was high: 63% among patients with ST-segment elevation and 73% in those without ST-segment elevation. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiogenic shock occurs in the setting of acute ischemic syndromes regardless of whether ST-segment elevation is present. The incidence, patient characteristics, timing, clinical course, and angiographic findings differ between the 2 groups. Mortality from cardiogenic shock is similarly high among patients with and without ST-segment elevation.

Emergency extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-supported percutaneous coronary interventions in the fibrillating heart.

We describe two cases of refractory ventricular fibrillation complicating transcatheter interventional procedures. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was used in each to support percutaneous coronary revascularization in the fibrillating heart as a means of facilitating successful restoration of sinus rhythm. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 48:402-405, 1999.

Validation of risk adjustment models for in-hospital percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty mortality on an independent data set.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to validate recently proposed risk adjustment models for in-hospital percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) mortality on an independent data set of high risk patients undergoing PTCA. BACKGROUND: Risk adjustment models for PTCA mortality have recently been reported, but external validation on independent data sets and on high risk patient groups is lacking. METHODS: Between July 1, 1994 and June 1, 1996, 1,476 consecutive procedures were performed on a high risk patient group characterized by a high incidence of cardiogenic shock (3.3%) and acute myocardial infarction (14.3%). Predictors of in-hospital mortality were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Two external models of in-hospital mortality, one developed by the Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group (model NNE) and the other by the Cleveland Clinic (model CC), were compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: In this patient group, an overall in-hospital mortality rate of 3.4% was observed. Multivariate regression analysis identified risk factors for death in the hospital that were similar to the risk factors identified by the two external models. When fitted to the data set, both external models had an area under the ROC curve >0.85, indicating overall excellent model discrimination, and both models were accurate in predicting mortality in different patient subgroups. There was a trend toward a greater ability to predict mortality for model NNE as compared with model CC, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Predictive models for PTCA mortality yield comparable results when applied to patient groups other than the one on which the original model was developed. The accuracy of the two models tested in adjusting for the relatively high mortality rate observed in this patient group supports their application in quality assessment or quality improvement efforts.

Effect of time of 7E3 administration on rt-PA-induced reperfusion: study in a canine model of thrombus-based occlusion-reperfusion.

Chimeric version of the murine monoclonal antibody, 7E3 has been proposed for the early restoration of coronary artery patency during thrombolytic therapy. We determined the optimal time for administration of 7E3 during recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA)-induced thrombolysis using a canine model of coronary artery thrombosis. After 30 min of thrombotic occlusion, microspheres were injected to assess regional myocardial blood flow, followed by a 90-min rt-PA infusion. Dogs were randomized to three groups wherein 7E3 (0.8 mg kg(-1), i.v.) was administered either 5 min before rt-PA (Group I), at the first evidence of thrombolysis (Group II), or after the completion of rt-PA infusion (Group III). Hemodynamic parameters were monitored for 6 h after which infarct size was estimated. Time to occlusion/reperfusion was similar in all groups. In the rt-PA alone group, 78% arteries reoccluded after 60 min of reperfusion. The incidence of reocclusion was lower in Groups II (25%, P = 0.04) and III (0%. P < 0.01). All arteries (100%) were patent at the end of the protocol in Group III vs 50% remaining patent in Group I (P = 0.01). Arterial patency was maintained longer in Group III (301 min, n = 10), compared with Groups I (124 min, n = 5) and II (124 min, n = 6). Arterial flow was greater in Group III (82%) compared with Groups I (27%) and II (35%) (P < 0.01). Regional myocardial blood flow and infarct size were similar in all groups. The data indicate that the time of administration of 7E3 in conjunction with rt-PA-induced thrombolysis influences patency status. The experimental results suggest that in the absence of aspirin and heparin, optimal thrombolysis is obtained when 7E3 is administered after the completion of rt-PA infusion regimen.

Frequency and clinical outcome of cardiogenic shock during acute myocardial infarction among patients receiving reteplase or alteplase. Results from GUSTO-III. Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries.

AIMS: Reteplase has been reported to achieve better patency of the infarct artery than alteplase. As infarct artery patency is strongly associated with survival among patients with cardiogenic shock, we postulated that treatment with reteplase would improve outcomes among shock patients. METHODS: We compared 30-day mortality rates among patients in GUSTO-III who either presented with shock or developed shock after enrollment; all patients received either front-loaded alteplase or reteplase (two bolus doses of 10 MU, 30 min apart). RESULTS: Shock occurred in 260 (5.3%) of 4921 patients randomized to alteplase and 560 (5.5%) of 10,138 patients randomized to reteplase. Of these patients, 28 (10.8%) and 55 (9.8%) randomized to alteplase and reteplase, respectively, presented with shock. In-hospital, 35% and 37% of shock patients assigned to alteplase or reteplase, respectively, underwent coronary angiography, with similar rates of percutaneous (approximately 11-13%) or surgical (approximately 2-3%) revascularization procedures subsequently performed. Death within 30 days occurred in 169 (65%) and 353 (63%) shock patients randomized to alteplase and reteplase, respectively (P = 0.59). Of patients presenting with shock, 64% and 58% of patients randomized to alteplase or reteplase died within 30 days (P = 0.59). CONCLUSION: Compared with alteplase, reteplase did not improve outcome among patients who presented with shock or developed shock after receiving thrombolytics. The newer-generation thrombolytic agents remain of limited efficacy in the treatment and prevention of shock.