Early administration of this drug before an angioplasty may allow blood flow to be restored to the blocked artery faster, said Timothy Alikakos, M.D., cardiology, Lutheran General Hospital. We believe that patients may have better outcomes and that it may reduce the size of their heart attack and the amount of damaged tissue. Thirty five patients have enrolled in the study at this earlier stage of treatment. Analysis of results from the patients receiving Integrilin is still ongoing, said Dr. Alikakos. About the study Patients who present to Lutheran General Hospital s emergency room with heart attack symptoms are randomly selected to receive Integrilin before angioplasty or they receive a placebo.
Patients undergo angiography to determine if angioplasty is necessary.
If angioplasty is needed, the drug the patient received in the emergency room will be revealed. If a placebo was given then Integrilin will be started immediately. If Integrilin was already administered then that will be continued. All other usual therapies for the treatment of a heart attack are administered. Dr. Timothy Alikakos, Lutheran General Hospital, received the Novartis Cardiology Fellows Abstract Award for studying the use of Integrilin in this new way.