ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Analysis of the first 20 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who were treated with intravenous APSAC. METHODS: Twenty patients with AMI less than 6 hours of duration of symptoms were treated with IV APSAC bolus of 30 mg. Seventeen were males, ages ranging between 40 and 73 (mean 54) years. The first angiographic study was performed in 90 minutes and 5-7 days after drug administration. RESULTS: In the angiographic study performed at 90 minutes the infarct--related artery were left anterior descending (LAD) in 7 patients (35%), right coronary artery (RCA) in 9 (45%) and left circumflex (LCX) in 4 (20%). In 14 (70%) of the patients had patent infarct-related artery and the mean of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 0.49 +/- 0.15. In six non recanalized patients the mean LVEF was 0.40 +/- 0.14. No complications were observed, and in the second angiographic study one patient showed reocclusion of the infarct-related artery. CONCLUSION: Because of easy application (IV bolus), no complication and high rate of early recanalization, IV APSAC seems to be an efficient thrombolytic agent in the treatment of patients with AMI.
