Angiographically assessed coronary arterial patency and reocclusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with anistreplase: results of the anistreplase reocclusion multicenter study (ARMS).

In this open multicenter study, 156 patients with acute myocardial infarction received 30 U of anistreplase intravenously over 5 minutes within 4 hours of the onset of chest pain. The patency of the infarct-related vessel was determined by coronary angiography 90 minutes after anistreplase treatment, and also 24 hours after treatment, in patients with a patent infarct-related vessel at 90 minutes, to assess the reocclusion rate. The investigators categorized the infarct-related vessel as patent or occluded, and 2 independent cardiologists graded the infarct-related vessel according to the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) perfusion criteria.

An 8-week double-blind study of amlodipine and diltiazem in patients with stable exertional angina pectoris.

A multicenter, double-blind study was performed to compare the antianginal efficacy and safety of the new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist amlodipine with the benzothiazepine calcium antagonist diltiazem in patients with stable exertional angina pectoris. Following a 2-week placebo run-in period, 39 patients were randomized to receive amlodipine (2.5-10 mg once daily) and 41 patients to receive diltiazem (60-120 mg three times daily) in an 8-week double-blind treatment phase.

Comparison of intravenous anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex and intracoronary streptokinase in acute myocardial infarction.

Coronary angiography was used to compare the efficacy of anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (APSAC) administered intravenously and streptokinase given by intracoronary infusion in inducing reperfusion in patients with a proven acute myocardial infarction. Forty-two patients received 30 U of APSAC intravenously over 5 minutes and 43 patients received 250,000 IU of streptokinase given via intracoronary infusion over 90 minutes, after occlusion of the infarct-related vessel was demonstrated by angiography. Reperfusion was achieved in 23 (64%) of 36 patients (mean time to reperfusion 46 minutes) treated with APSAC and 25 (67%) of 37 patients (mean time to reperfusion 45 minutes) treated with intracoronary streptokinase, who were angiographically evaluated 90 minutes after the start of treatment.