Adjunctive Antiplatelet Therapy in Acute Myocardial Infarction: The Road to Improved Infarct-Related Artery Patency.

A direct relationship exists between infarct artery patency and survival in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Currently available thrombolytic regimens produce 90 minute patency rates on the order of 80%. Preliminary trials suggest that adjunctive anti-platelet therapy with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, in conjunction with thrombolytic therapy, may significantly improve 90 minute infarct related artery patency and thereby survival, in patients with acute myocardial infarction.