[Assessment of outcome in treatment of cardiac shock after myocardial infarction with intravenous streptokinase].

In 1986 a prospective randomized study coordinated by the Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw was started in 10 teaching cardiology hospitals in Poland for assessment of the results of treatment with intravenous streptokinase infusion in acute myocardial infarction. The studied population comprised 927 patients admitted to intensive treatment units within 6 hours after the onset of infarction pain. For the groups treated with streptokinase or heparin 752 patients were selected at random. In 175 cases the administration of streptokinase was contraindicated. These patients received conventional treatment and served as controls. The age of the patients was from 38 to 70 years, mean age 57.6 +/- 9.3 years. In 105 out of 927 cases cardiac shock was diagnosed. In the groups of early shock during hospitalization the death rate was 82%. No statistically significant difference was found in the death rates between patients with cardiac shock treated with heparin or with streptokinase.