Left ventricular function after anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex.

Limitation of the reduction in left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction is an important indicator of benefit following thrombolytic therapy. Therefore, left ventricular function was studied by radionuclide ventriculography in 91 patients entering 3 separate studies of anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (APSAC) administered within 4 hours of acute myocardial infarction. Global left ventricular ejection fraction was measured at 10 days and at 6 months to assess early and late effects of therapy, with particular emphasis on the timing of treatment and the site of infarction. Successful therapy with APSAC in anterior infarction resulted in preservation of left ventricular function at 10 days. The magnitude of benefit declined with increasing symptom duration before treatment, and was maintained at 6 months in those patients without reocclusion. The benefit of successful therapy was less marked in the inferior infarct group at 10 days. By 6 months, no significant benefit was detected because of an increase in ejection fraction in the placebo and occlusion or reocclusion group with inferior infarction. Early therapy results in greater preservation of left ventricular function, and recovery of function may be more rapid than with later treatment. More emphasis on early administration of thrombolytic therapy is indicated.