Rapid infusion of streptokinase standard dose in acute myocardial infarction is followed by a higher rate of coronary reperfusion than standard protocol.

There are several opinions asserting that the accelerated t-PA is more efficient than the standard protocol of streptokinase (SK) administration in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). One hundred patients admitted within the first 6 hrs after the onset of the symptoms revealing AMI were divided in two subgroups, as follows: subgroup A (50 patients) in whom a dose of 1.5 M.U. SK was infused in 20 min (accelerated protocol) and subgroup B (50 patients) in whom the same dose was infused in 60 min (standard protocol). In order to assess the efficiency of thrombolytic therapy (TT), we used three noninvasive criteria: the rapid resolution of the chest pain, the rapid decreasing of the ST segment elevation by more than 50% from the initial value, and the rapid increasing of enzymes revealing necrosis. Using the above-mentioned criteria, we considered that coronary reperfusion appeared in 40 patients from subgroup A (80%) and in 29 patients from subgroup B (58%). The speed of coronary reperfusion was 40 +/- 26 min in patients with accelerated SK and this time was significantly shorter than the time of 60 +/- 24 min registered in the control group. No major hemorrhagic events appeared in both subgroups. Although hypotension appeared more frequently in subgroup A, this minor complication was well supported by our patients. The rapid infusion of the standard dose of SK was followed by a higher rate and speed of coronary reperfusion as compared to the standard protocol.