Streptokinase for Inferior Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Eric Bates
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1991)

Letters15 April 1991Streptokinase for Inferior Myocardial InfarctionEric Bates, MDEric Bates, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-114-8-701 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editors: I am concerned that the Midgette and colleagues' meta-analysis (1) of the effect of intravenous streptokinase on mortality due to acute inferior myocardial infarction may be misinterpreted by primary care physicians. Such misinterpretation could lead to thousands of patients with inferior myocardial infarction not receiving the potential benefits attributed to thrombolytic therapy (2).First, the conclusion that intravenous streptokinase monotherapy is ineffective in patients with inferior myocardial infarction is probably correct (3). However, it needs to be emphasized that these poor results are probably due to lower patency rates than are seen in patients with anterior myocardial...References1. MidgetteO'ConnorBaronBell AGJJ. Effect of intravenous Streptokinase on early mortality in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction. A meta-analysis by anatomic location of infarction. Ann Intern Med. 1990;113:961-8. LinkGoogle Scholar2. MullerTopol DE. Selection of patients with acute myocardial infarction for thrombolytic therapy. Ann Intern Med. 1990;113:949-60. LinkGoogle Scholar3. Bates E. Reperfusion therapy in inferior myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1988;12:44A-51A. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. BergerRyan PT. Inferior myocardial infarction. High risk subgroups. Circulation. 1990;81:401-11. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. WillemsWillemsWillems JRG. Significance of initial ST segment elevation and depression for the management of thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction. Circulation. 1990;82:1147-58. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. MidgetteO'ConnorBaronBell AGJJ. Effect of intravenous Streptokinase on early mortality in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction. A meta-analysis by anatomic location of infarction. Ann Intern Med. 1990;113:961-8. LinkGoogle Scholar2. . Randomized trial of intravenous streptokinase, oral aspirin, both or neither among 17,187 cases of suspected acute myocardial infarction. Lancet. 1988;2:349-60. MedlineGoogle Scholar3. BergerRyan PT. Inferior myocardial infarction. High-risk sub-groups. Circulation. 1990;81:401-11. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. MauriGaspariniBarbonaglia FML. Prognostic significance of the extent of myocardial injury in acute myocardial infarction treated by streptokinase (the GISSI trial). Am J Cardiol. 1989;63:1291-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. WillemsWillemsWillems JRG. Significance of initial ST segment elevation and depression for the management of thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction. Circulation. 1990;82:1147-58. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of Michigan Medical Center Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0022 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 15 April 1991Volume 114, Issue 8Page: 701-702KeywordsMortalityMyocardial infarctionPrimary care physicians Issue Published: 15 April 1991 PDF DownloadLoading ...