Effects of early high-dose streptokinase intravenously on left ventricular function in acute myocardial infarction.

One hundred seven patients who recently had acute myocardial infarction were randomly assigned either to standard heparin therapy or to intravenous streptokinase within 5 hours after the onset of symptoms in 7 hospitals without catheterization facilities. In the third week, the patients were referred to a university hospital, where the patency rate of the infarct-related artery was studied by selective coronary arteriography and left ventricular function by radionuclide angiography. Fifty-five patients received heparin and 52 streptokinase within a mean period of 190 minutes after the onset of symptoms. Seven patients in the heparin group and 4 in the streptokinase group died in hospital. The patency rate of the infarct-related artery was identical in both groups (69% in the heparin group vs 68% in the streptokinase group). Left ventricular ejection fraction was not statistically different (0.44 +/- 0.13 in the heparin group vs 0.45 +/- 0.12 in the streptokinase group). Left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in patients with a patent infarct-related artery than in patients with an obstructed infarct-related artery (0.49 +/- 0.12 vs 0.41 +/- 0.15, p less than 0.01). In patients with inferior wall infarction, left ventricular ejection fraction was identical (0.50 +/- 0.10 in the heparin group vs 0.52 +/- 0.09, in the streptokinase group). In patients with anterior wall infarction, left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in the streptokinase group than in heparin group (0.40 +/- 0.10 vs 0.33 +/- 0.09, p less than 0.05). Analysis of regional wall motion revealed that improvement occurred in the lateral wall of the left ventricle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Evaluation of the size of atrial septal defects by subxiphoid approach in two-dimensional echocardiography]. / Estimation de la taille des communications interauriculaires par voie sous-xiphoïdienne en échocardiographie bidimensionnelle.

In order to assess whether subxiphoid two-dimensional echography is a reliable method to evaluate the size of atrial septal defects (ASD), we compared echocardiographic and per-operative measurements. We then tried to determine whether the size of the defect correlated with the importance of the shunt at catheterization. The records of 23 patients (16 female, 7 male) operated upon for uncomplicated ASD were selected. Mean age was 23.5 +/- 17.3 years (range: 8 months to 62 years). Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed by the "reversed" subxiphoid route, using two projections: "4-cavity section" and an oblique section, perpendicular to the first one, through the atria and the aortic arch. The greater echographic diameter was compared with the greater diameter measured at surgery. The ASD area, assimilated at echography to a circle, was compared with the per-operative area (elliptic or circular opening depending on whether 1 or 2 dimensions were available). Per-operative diameter and area related to body surface were then correlated with the haemodynamic QP/QS ratio. The location of the ASD proved correct in all cases (ostium secundum 19, sinus venosus 3, inferior vena cava 1). Mean diameters were 22.4 +/- 6.4 mm (range: 12-40 mm) at echocardiography and 23.6 +/- 7 mm (range: 12-45 mm) at surgery. The mean area at echography was slightly superior to that measured per-operatively: 4.3 +/- 2.6 cm2 (1.4-12.5 cm2) versus 3.8 +/- 2.1 cm2 (1.4-8.9 cm2). There was a very good correlation between echographic and per-operative diameters (r = 0.91; p less than 0.001) and areas (r = 0.89; p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Intravenous streptokinase versus heparin in recent acute myocardial infarction. Randomized multicenter study in the Franche-Comté]. / Streptokinase intraveineuse versus héparine dans l'infarctus du myocarde aigu récent. Etude randomisée multicentrique franc-comtoise.

A multicentre randomised therapeutic trial was undertaken in 8 hospitals in the Franche-Comté department of France (Belfort, Besançon, Dole, Lons-le-Saunier, Luxeuil, Montbéliard, Vesoul, Pontarlier) in which 101 patients with acute primary myocardial infarction were treated within 5 hours of onset of symptoms with either intravenous streptokinase (1,500,000 U in 30 mn) or conventional heparin therapy. The results were assessed on the clinical outcome, arterial patency in the necrosed territory and global and regional ejection fractions (EF) at the 3rd week. After randomisation, 51 patients were given heparin and 50 received streptokinase. Seven patients died in the heparin group and 4 in the streptokinase group (NS). At the third week, the artery in the necrosed zone was patent in 69% of the heparin group and in 68% of the streptokinase group (NS). The EF was significantly higher in the patients with patent arteries in the necrosed zone than in those with occluded arteries (0.49 +/- 0.12 vs 0.41 +/- 0.15, p less than 0.01). There was no significant difference in EF between the heparin and streptokinase groups. The EF was significantly higher in patients with anterior infarction who received streptokinase than in those who received heparin (0.40 +/- 0.10 vs 0.33 +/- 0.09 p less than 0.05). Segmental wall motion was significantly better at the apex and free wall. There was no significant difference between the two groups in posterior infarction. These results show that reestablishment or maintenance of arterial patency in the necrosed zone improves left ventricular function and that patients with anterior wall infarction are the ones most likely to benefit from streptokinase therapy.