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Biomedical subjects

F Schiele

Publications and source records attributed to F Schiele.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Determinants of hormonal replacement therapy in recently postmenopausal women.

Although the efficacy of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) on the consequences of the menopause is not questioned, it appears that in Europe and in the USA only a small proportion of women are users of HRT. In this study, we examined the prevalence and the determinants of HRT among 1986 French menopausal women, aged 45 to 55 years, presenting to a preventive medicine centre. Overall, 8.1% of women reported current use of HRT. The estrogen preparation most commonly reported was transcutaneous 17 beta-oestradiol. The first determinant of current HRT was birth-place. Women born in France were nearly four times more likely to be on treatment than foreign-born women. A surgical menopause multiplied the probability of current HRT by 2, as did a high level of education. An age at first pregnancy of more than 20 and less than 4 children were also positively linked with HRT use. Even in this population of recently menopausal women, volunteering to undergo health evaluation, the prevalence of HRT was low. The reservations towards HRT may be partly due to the women themselves, and partly due to the physicians. It seems very important to inform the medical profession about the risks and benefits of HRT, and to understand more precisely the reasons why so few women use HRT.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Long-term results of percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty compared with aortic valve replacement in patients more than 75 years old.

OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND: To assess the long-term results of percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty and aortic valve replacement in elderly persons, two similar nonrandomized series of patients greater than or equal to 75 years old treated by one or the other method between January 1986 and March 1989 in the same institution were compared. METHODS: Forty-six patients, 23 men and 23 women, with a mean age of 79.7 +/- 3.6 years (range 75 to 90) underwent percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty with use of the Cribier method (group 1). Twenty-three additional patients, 14 men and 9 women with a mean age of 78.4 +/- 2.4 years (range 75 to 86) underwent aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis (group 2). All of them suffered from severe calcified aortic stenosis. Clinical and hemodynamic status were similar in both groups. The mean follow-up period was 21.5 months (5 days to 60 months) in group 1 and 27.5 months (7 days to 61 months) in group 2. RESULTS: Three patients (6.5%) in group 1 died within 5 days after percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty; 24 patients (52%) died during the follow-up period, 16 of whom died of recurrent cardiac failure. Of 16 patients (35%) subsequently operated on at an average of 15.8 months after percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty, 2 died at operation. Only three group 1 patients (6.5%) are still alive without subsequent aortic valve replacement. In group 2, two patients (8.7%) died postoperatively and three (13%) died during the follow-up period. All other patients (78%) are still alive and in New York Heart Association functional class I or II. The overall survival rate in group 1 was 75% at 1 year, 47% at 2 years and 33% at 5 years. In group 2, the survival rate was 83% at 1 and 2 years and 75% at 3 and 4 years. CONCLUSIONS: The results of percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty do not compare favorably with those of surgery in elderly people, and this treatment should not be recommended.

Aged↗

[Intravenous thrombolysis by recombinant plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in unstable angina. A randomized multicenter study versus placebo].

Fifty patients (38 men) with unstable angina pectoris defined by: pain lasting > 15 minutes+percritical electrocardiographic changes+significant coronary narrowing on coronary angiography (Coro 1) performed within 24 hours, were treated in a double blind protocol with rt-PA (n = 25) 100 mg/90 minutes (10 mg bolus + 90 mg/90 minutes or placebo (n = 25). All received effective intravenous heparin and intravenous nitrates. Calcium antagonists and betablockers were prescribed in half the cases. Aspirin (100 mg orally per day) was prescribed after control coronary angiography (Coro 2) performed 24 +/- 6 hours after starting treatment. Qualitative and quantitative analysis (CAESAR system) was centralised. There were no differences in the angiographic findings between the two groups. Intracoronary thrombosis was observed in 43% (rt-PA) and 44% (placebo) in Coro 1 and in 17% and 28% in Coro 2. The incidence of myocardial revascularisation procedures was similar in the two groups: angioplasty: 12 (rt-PA) and 13 (placebo); coronary bypass surgery: 5 (rt-PA) and 6 (placebo). Seven patients developed myocardial infarction (5 rt-PA, 2 placebo), one of whom died of cardiogenic shock (placebo). Eighteen patients had haemorrhagic complications (14 rt-PA, 4 placebo; p < 0.002) mainly at the puncture sites (12/14, 3/4). Spontaneous haemorrhage occurred in 7/25 (28%) of patients on rt-PA (haematuria 3, gastrointestinal haemorrhage 2, haematuria + gastrointestinal haemorrhage 1, epistaxis 1) and in 1/25 patients on placebo (gastrointestinal haemorrhage) This study shows that intravenous thrombolysis with rt-PA in severe unstable angina pectoris doe not modify the clinical outcome or the angiographic lesions but exposes patients to a high risk of haemorrhagic complications.

Adult↗

Avidin-biotin enzyme immunoassay of osteocalcin in serum or plasma.

We describe a competitive enzyme immunoassay, the ExtrAvidin-biotin system, for determining osteocalcin in human serum or plasma. Antibodies were raised against bovine osteocalcin. Binding of the antibodies to osteocalcin was calcium-dependent. Limit of detection is 0.07 nmol/L (0.4 microgram/L). The standard curve for method is linear between 0.3 and 17.6 nmol/L (1.9 and 100 micrograms/L). Interassay CV over the range 0.9 to 14.8 nmol/L (5.3 to 84 micrograms/L) is 7.5% to 11.7%. Analytical recovery is 105% +/- 5% (mean +/- SD). The measurement, which is adapted to microtiter plates, requires only 20 microL of serum and 5 h. The coefficient of correlation between the concentrations measured by this method and by a commercially available radioimmunoassay kit (CIS Biointernational) is 0.91. Osteocalcin can be measured in serum or heparinized plasma. Hemolysis (174 mumol/L hemoglobin) reduces osteocalcin concentration by 54%. High concentrations of triglycerides (7 mmol/L) give an overestimation of 63%. Serum concentrations of osteocalcin measured in 130 healthy subjects (ages 15-64 years) and 86 children (ages 4-14 years) were 1.4 +/- 0.8 and 4.0 +/- 1.5 nmol/L (8.1 +/- 4.6 and 22.5 +/- 8.6 micrograms/L), respectively (mean +/- SD).

Adolescent↗

Interlaboratory study of the IFCC method for alanine aminotransferase performed with use of a partly purified reference material.

We present the results of a study on performance of a reference material for alanine aminotransferase (ALT, EC 2.6.1.2) and the corresponding IFCC-approved method in an interlaboratory trial involving 13 laboratories. The ALT material was partly purified from pig heart (specific activity, 150 kU/g) and was essentially free of six potentially contaminating enzyme activities, including aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1). The partly purified ALT was lyophilized in a triethanolamine-buffered matrix, pH 6.4, containing bovine serum albumin and saccharose. Under these conditions, the predicted yearly loss of activity was 0.02% at 4 degrees C and < 0.01% at -20 degrees C. The final blank-corrected results of the accepted set of data gave a mean (SD) of 128.5 (5.1) U/L. The among-laboratory SD was 4.6 U/L and the within-laboratory SD was 2.0 U/L. The certified ALT catalytic concentration in the reconstituted material was 129 U/L with a 0.95 confidence interval of +/- 4 U/L.

Alanine Transaminase↗

[Arterial permeability, objective of thrombolytic therapy].

The effects of thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction are related exclusively to coronary arterial reperfusion. This is the main factor which influences myocardial salvage, the conservation of left ventricular function and, ultimately, the reduction in mortality. From the beginning of the 80s, the patency (or reperfusion) rate was arbitrarily assesses at 90 minutes. However, arterial reperfusion is a progressive phenomenon and the patency rate in a population of acute myocardial infarctions varies with time. Depending on the thrombolytic agent and the rate of administration, the patency increases at a variable rate attaining a plateau at the 4th-6th hour, the maximal patency being obtained between the 24th to the 48th hour. Therefore, assessing patency at the 90th minute of thrombolytic therapy is an approximate and relatively inaccurate method of assessing the efficacy of a given thrombolytic agent. When evaluating a thrombolytic drug administered at a certain dosage, the rate of reperfusion and the value and precocity of the plateau phase must be taken into account. The respective performances of different thrombolytics in terms of arterial patency are comparable. Nevertheless, the rate of reperfusion with Streptokinase given at the dose of 1.5 million i.v. in 60 minutes is lower than that obtained with more recent thrombolytic drugs. Streptokinase also appears to be less active on chronic thrombi. The late patency rate after the 24th hour is over 90% with nearly all thrombolytic drugs but it would seem to be less with rt-PA because of a higher reocclusion rate associated with this particular agent. The study of reocclusion requires control coronary angiography between the 24th and 72nd hour (7th day in some studies). The prevalence of this complication is influenced by several factors, especially the severity of residual stenosis after thrombolysis and the grade of perfusion obtained after the treatment: secondary reocclusion is significantly lower with long-acting and non-fibrin specific thrombolytic agents. It is approximately 2 to 5% with APSAC, Streptokinase and pro-urokinase, and two to three times greater with rt-PA. Finally, the use of more powerful antiplatelet drugs than those currently available and of specific anti-thrombin agents could reduce the rate of secondary reocclusion. Associations of thrombolytic agents, the development of thrombolytic chimera and new thrombolytic molecules could improve the efficacy of thrombolytic therapy in terms of capacity of reperfusion and tolerance, especially with respect to haemorrhagic complications.

Humans↗

[Left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction].

Left ventricular remodeling describes a number of geometric and structural changes that the left ventricle undergoes after myocardial infarction. Briefly, it comprises expansion of the infarct and dilatation of the healthy left ventricular segments. Its severity is related to the infarct size. These changes in ventricular geometry, in particular the dilatation, influence the long-term incidence of cardiac failure, the main secondary complication of myocardial infarction. Up to now, therapeutic interventions have been oriented to reducing the infarct size with the aim of avoiding or delaying the occurrence of left ventricular dysfunction. Nowadays, it seems possible to influence the natural process of post-infarction. Left ventricular remodeling independently of efforts to reduce infarct size. There is evidence that this process may be limited pharmacologically with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. In animal studies, these agents limit remodeling and improve survival after myocardial infarction, but for the moment, despite confirmed benefits on left ventricular modeling, it is not possible to extrapolate these results in terms of clinical mortality.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Certification of an enzyme reference material for alkaline phosphatase (CRM 371).

We have produced a batch of lyophilized alkaline phosphatase (AP) for use as an enzyme reference material. The enzyme was partly purified from pig kidney to a specific activity of 400 U/mg of protein and is essentially free from contaminating enzyme activities. The kinetic properties of the preparation are very close to those of the enzyme present in human serum. The partly purified AP was lyophilized in a matrix containing bovine serum albumin (40 g/L), MgCl2, ZnCl2 and NaCl. The vial-to-vial variability with respect to the catalytic concentration of the final product was 0.008. The predicted annual relative loss of activity was less than 0.01% at -20 degrees C and 0.04% at 4 degrees C. This material was certified using the IFCC proposed method. The certification procedure involved 19 laboratories throughout the world. The certified alkaline phosphatase catalytic concentration in the reconstituted material was 254 U/L with a 0.95 confidence interval of +/- 6 U/L.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

The double-balloon and Inoue techniques in percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty: comparative results in a series of 232 cases.

Immediate hemodynamic results of percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty were compared in two consecutive series of unselected patients from the same institution undergoing valvuloplasty with the double-balloon (161 patients) or the Inoue balloon (71 patients) technique. Before valvuloplasty, the patient series were comparable with regard to average age, gender repartition and most clinical, electrocardiographic, X-ray and hemodynamic variables. Poor anatomic forms of mitral stenosis were equally distributed in both series (41% vs. 45%, p = NS). The magnitude of mitral valve area increase and of mean mitral gradient decrease during percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty did not differ significantly in the Inoue balloon and double-balloon series (mean +/- SEM 1.1 +/- 0.2 to 1.95 +/- 0.5 and 1.0 +/- 0.2 to 1.97 +/- 0.5 cm2, respectively, for mitral valve area and 12 +/- 3 to 5 +/- 2 and 13 +/- 4 to 5 +/- 2 mm Hg, respectively, for mean mitral gradient). Four cases of 3+ mitral regurgitation occurred in the Inoue balloon series and 7 in the double-balloon series (p = NS). A good immediate result--defined as mitral valve area greater than or equal to 1.5 cm2 with greater than or equal to 25% in mitral valve area gain and mitral regurgitation less than 2+ at the end of the procedure--was observed in 78% of patients in both series. Three cases of tamponade due to chamber perforation and 14 cases of transient air embolism in the right coronary system due to balloon rupture were observed in the double-balloon series.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Balloon Occlusion↗

Percutaneous mitral valvulotomy in non-optimal candidates.

From 1987 to 1990, 215 patients aged 53 +/- 13 years underwent percutaneous mitral valvulotomy in our institution. Mean gradient dropped on average from 13 +/- 4 to 5 +/- 2 mmHg and mitral valve area increased from 1.0 +/- 0.26 to 1.97 +/- 0.5 cm2 at the end of the procedure. Good results, defined as mitral valve area greater than or equal to 1.5 cm2 and mitral regurgitation less than or equal to 2+ at the end of the procedure, were obtained in 78% of the cases. In 41 patients with a poor anatomical form of mitral stenosis, mean gradient decreased from 12 +/- 3 to 6 +/- 6 mmHg and mitral valve area increased from 1.0 +/- 0.3 to 1.7 +/- 0.5 cm2. Good results were obtained in only 50% of the patients. One third of the 3+ mitral regurgitation occurred in this subgroup of patients. In patients with prior surgical commissurotomy, in elderly people and in patients with associated valvulopathy or prosthetic aortic valve, the success rate was similarly low. A significant inverse relationship was found between X-ray and echo scores on the one hand and mitral valve area at the end of the procedure on the other, thus confirming that the results of percutaneous mitral valvulotomy are related to the anatomical form of mitral stenosis. However, patients with poor anatomical forms can undergo the procedure with an acceptable risk compared to benefit ratio.

Adolescent↗

Comparative effects of APSAC and rt-PA on infarct size and left ventricular function in acute myocardial infarction. A multicenter randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA or alteplase) and anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (APSAC or anistreplase) have been demonstrated to limit infarct size significantly and to preserve left ventricular function when injected soon after acute myocardial infarction. However, as yet, the efficacy and safety of these two thrombolytic agents have not been directly compared in one trial; this was the aim of this study. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred eighty-three patients suffering from a first acute myocardial infarction were randomly allocated to either APSAC (30 units over 5 minutes) or single-chain rt-PA (100 mg over a 3-hour period) within 4 hours of the onset of symptoms. Global and regional left ventricular function were assessed from contrast angiography an average of 5.3 +/- 2.3 days after initial therapy. Radionuclide angiography and thallium-201 single-photon emission computerized tomography were performed before hospital discharge. Infarct size was assessed by single-photon emission computerized tomography and expressed in percentage of the total myocardial volume. Ninety patients received APSAC and 93 received rt-PA within a mean period of 172 +/- 52 minutes after the onset of symptoms. The two groups were similar in age, location of the acute myocardial infarction, Killip class, and time of randomization. The patency rate of the infarct-related artery was 72% in the APSAC group and 76% in the rt-PA group (NS). Initial and predischarge left ventricular ejection fraction as well as infarct size were similar in both therapeutic groups (0.50 +/- 0.14 versus 0.52 +/- 0.12 for initial and 0.48 +/- 0.10 versus 0.47 +/- 0.10 for predischarge ejection fraction, 11 +/- 7% versus 9 +/- 7% for infarct size, respectively, for APSAC- and rt-PA-treated patients). Bleeding complications requiring blood transfusion occurred in one APSAC patient and in two rt-PA patients. One patient in the rt-PA group died of a massive intracranial hemorrhage. At the end of the 3-week follow-up period, five APSAC patients (5.5%) and seven rt-PA patients (7.5%) had died. CONCLUSIONS: The early infusion of APSAC or rt-PA in acute myocardial infarction produced a similar patency rate, limitation of infarct size, and preservation of left ventricular systolic function with an equivalent rate of bleeding complications.

Anistreplase↗

[Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty by Inoue's technique. Apropos of an experience of 71 cases].

Seventy-one consecutive, unselected patients underwent percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty by Inoue's technique between February and November 1990. The mean age was 53 years (range 32 to 75 years). Fifteen of the 71 patients had previously undergone surgical mitral commissurotomy. Three patients had Björk aortic valve prostheses. The mitral valve surface area increased from 1.1 +/- 0.2 cm2 to 1.95 +/- 0.5 cm2 (p less than 0.01) and the mean transmitral pressure gradient fell from 12 +/- 3 mmHg to 5 +/- 2 mmHg (p less than 0.05). Grade 3+ mitral regurgitation was observed in 4 patients. There were no cases of cardiac perforation or tamponade. The only complications were related to the catheterisation and not to the technique valvuloplasty (one case of prolonged fever which regressed with antibiotic therapy, one case of arteriovenous fistula at the site of femoral artery puncture). The QP/QS ratio was 1.1 +/- 0.2 at the end of the procedure. A QP/QS ratio greater than 1.5 was observed in one patient. A left-to-right shunt was observed in 53% of cases in the immediate post-valvuloplasty period with Doppler color flow imaging. In all, 78% of patients had a satisfactory result (mitral surface area greater than 1.5 cm2 and mitral regurgitation less than or equal to 2/4). These results are identical to those observed with the double balloon technique with a lower rate of complications. The duration of the procedure (104 +/- 13 min p less than 0.02) and of radioscopy (16 +/- 8 min, p less than 0.02) were shorter than with the double balloon technique.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

An avidin-biotin ELISA for the measurement of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase in human serum.

We describe a new double-antibody ELISA system using avidin-biotin amplication for the mass measurement of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (m-AST) in human serum. The assay is very sensitive and as little as 0.5 ng/ml of m-AST may be detected. The method is linear up to 100 micrograms/l. The within-day and day-to-day coefficients of variation were found to be 8.9% and 11.5% respectively for a low m-AST concentration (2.7 micrograms/l), and 5.9% and 8.0% respectively for a high level of m-AST (30 micrograms/l). The assay requires 100 microliters of serum and can be completed within 5 h. The ELISA procedure and a classical immunoprecipitation technique measuring the catalytic activity of the isoenzyme were applied simultaneously to the sera of 189 subjects. The protein levels determined by ELISA correlated poorly (r = 0.66) with the catalytic activity of m-AST.

Adolescent↗

Aortic valve area evolution after percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty. A prospective trial using a combined Doppler echocardiographic and haemodynamic method.

The aortic valve area was serially evaluated in 45 patients, mean age 78 years, suffering from severe aortic stenosis who underwent percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty. The aortic valve area was calculated from haemodynamic data prior to and immediately after the procedure using the mean gradient. Serial determinations of the aortic valve area were also obtained 1 day before, 1 day after and 2 months after valvuloplasty from the thermodilution cardiac output and Doppler echocardiography mean left ventricle-to-aorta gradient. The mean gradient significantly decreased from 75 +/- 24 to 42 +/- 16 mmHg (P less than 0.01) when measured from haemodynamic data and from 63 +/- 20 to 41 +/- 13 mmHg (P less than 0.01) when estimated from Doppler-derived data. It rose to 48 +/- 15 mmHg at 2 months (NS). The aortic valve area increased significantly from 0.48 +/- 0.13 to 0.67 +/- 0.29 cm2 (P less than 0.01) when calculated from haemodynamic data, and from 0.53 +/- 0.18 to 0.74 +/- 0.23 cm2 (P less than 0.01) when estimated from Doppler-derived data. It declined to 0.69 +/- 0.27 cm2 at 2 months (NS). Aortic valve area values determined from haemodynamic data and from Doppler-derived data correlated well before valvuloplasty (r = 0.80, P less than 0.01) but poorly afterwards (r = 0.57, P less than 0.01). The aortic valve area was not influenced by valvuloplasty in eight patients. At 2 months, restenosis was apparent in eight patients out of 32 that were re-evaluated. Three patients died within 5 days of the procedure. After an average 12 months' follow-up, eight more patients died. Symptoms were not influenced or recurred in 17 patients, while 17 others remained improved by at least one NYHA functional class. Seven patients were operated on, and there was one operative death. The calculated aortic valve area was significantly greater at the end of the procedure in the patients with persistent improvement compared with those with a poor result (0.83 +/- 0.29 cm2 vs 0.65 +/- 0.14 cm2, P less than 0.05). In conclusion, in this study one third of the patients submitted to percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty had no objective improvement in calculated valve area or early restenosis after 2 months. Functional improvement was observed in one third of the patients. Immediate re-estimation of the aortic valve area from haemodynamic data at the end of the procedure may not reflect the actual effect of valvuloplasty on the aortic orifice.

Aged↗

[Effect of thrombolytic agents on infarct size and left ventricle systolic function in myocardial infarction].

The early intravenous administration of thrombolytic agents in the acute phase of myocardial infarction induces reperfusion of the artery responsible for the necrosis, thereby limiting the size of the infarct and preserving the left ventricular systolic function with consequent reduction of short- or long-term mortality. With the exception of urokinase, these effects have been demonstrated with all thrombolytic agents used so far, including streptokinase, plasminogen tissue activator and anistreplase. Owing to its special pharmacokinetic properties, the latest thrombolytic agent, formerly known as APSAC (anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex), provides a high arterial reperfusion rate with a low percentage of reocclusion. As a result, the mean size of the infarct is reduced by 31 per cent (36% in the case of anterior infarct), and the left ventricular systolic function is highly significantly preserved.

Anistreplase↗

[Postoperative course of systolic and diastolic indices of left ventricular function in aortic valve stenosis in adults. Exercise test with radionuclide angiography].

Resting and stress radionuclide angiography was performed before and, on average, one year after surgery for adult aortic stenosis in 26 patients. The left ventricular ejection fraction, ventricular volumes, left ventricular stroke volume and peak velocity of ventricular filling were studied under basal conditions and at the peak of exercise. Right and left heart catheterisation and coronary angiography were performed before surgery with determination of the conventional indices of left ventricular function. Investigations were completed by pre and postoperative echocardiography. The same procedures were carried out in a control population of the same age. Before surgery, hemodynamic adaptation to exercise, judged by the change in left ventricular stroke volume, solicits the passive properties of the left ventricle: the left ventricular stroke volume increases by an increase in the end diastolic volume. In the control group, the increase in stroke volume is obtained by a decrease in end systolic volume, that is to say by increasing systolic shortening. The peak velocity of ventricular filling increases on exercise but to a lesser degree than in the control population. After surgery the hemodynamic adaptation to exercise results from an improved systolic shortening of the left ventricle but also from an increase in end diastolic volume. The peak velocity of left ventricular filling increases with respect to the preoperative values but remains less than that observed in the control population. No relationship was observed between the hemodynamic adaptation to exercise, the peak velocity of ventricular filling and myocardial mass whichever method was used for calculating the latter parameter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Age dependence, sex independence and reference values of serum fructosamine determined using a new colorimetry method].

Reference ranges were evaluated for a new colorimetric method for the determination of fructosamine in serum. The reference group was composed of 1114 non-diabetics of both sexes including children. Reference values are only slightly affected by age and sex. In the course of childhood to adolescence fructosamine values raise and finally stabilize in adults. The small differences between both sexes have no effect on the interpretation of clinical results. Relating fructosamine values to albumin or total protein has little impact on the distribution of the values when protein values were within the reference range.

Adolescent↗

Limitation of myocardial infarct size and preservation of left ventricular function by early administration of APSAC in myocardial infarction.

In cases of acute myocardial infarction (MI), it has been shown that preserving left ventricular function and limiting infarct size with early reperfusion of the occluded artery by means of a thrombolytic agent could eventually result in a reduced mortality rate. The aim of the APSIM study (anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex [APSAC] dans l'infarctus du Myocarde) was to demonstrate that early administration of APSAC in patients with recent acute MI could limit the infarct size and preserve left ventricular systolic function. In all, 231 patients with a first acute MI were randomly allocated to either APSAC (30 U over 5 minutes) or to conventional heparin therapy (5,000 IU in bolus injection) within 5 hours of the onset of symptoms. Of these patients, 112 received APSAC and 119 received heparin within a mean period of 188 +/- 62 minutes after the onset of symptoms. The patency rate of the infarct-related artery was 77% in the APSAC group and 36% in the heparin group (p less than 0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction determined from contrast angiography was significantly higher in the APSAC than in the heparin group. This was true for the entire population (0.53 +/- 0.13 vs 0.47 +/- 0.13, p = 0.002) as well as for the subgroups of anterior and inferior wall infarctions (0.47 +/- 0.13 vs 0.4 +/- 0.16, p = 0.004 and 0.56 +/- 0.11 vs 0.51 +/- 0.09, p = 0.02). At 3 weeks, the difference remained significant for patients with anterior MI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anistreplase↗