[Intracoronary streptokinase therapy in recent myocardial infarct. Results in patients with pain lasting less than 3 hours].

A report is presented on 14 patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction, in whom pain duration had not exceeded 3 hours. The coronary angiogram revealed occlusion of the supply vessel to the infarcted area in 11 patients and only stenosis in the 3 remaining cases. Intracoronary administration of streptokinase (2000 or 4000 U/min) achieved thrombolysis in 10 out of the 11 patients with thrombotic occlusion. None of the patients with successful recanalization died during hospitalization (3 to 4 weeks); re-infarction occurred in 2 cases. Angiographic control in the 4th week following infarction demonstrated reocclusion of the responsible vessel in 3 cases. Stenosis was unchanged in 5 patients, whilst reduction of the degree of stenosis was recorded in 2 patients. 2 patients required aortocoronary bypass surgery for recurrence of angina during mobilization. There was no change in the mean ejection fraction in the patients with persistent recanalization between the acute and the chronic stage of infarction.