Effect of Intravenous Streptokinase as Compared with That of Tissue Plasminogen Activator on Left Ventricular Function after First Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

In a double-blind trial comparing two thrombolytic agents as treatment for acute myocardial infarction, we randomized 270 consecutive patients an average (±SD) of 2.5±0.6 hours after the onset of chest pain from a first myocardial infarction — 135 to receive intravenous streptokinase (1.5 million units over 30 minutes) and 135 to receive intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) (100 mg over three hours). The primary end point was left ventricular function as assessed by cineangiography performed three weeks after infarction.