Clinical research: acute myocardial infarction
Beneficial effects of immediate stenting after thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction

Drs. Scheller and Hennen contributed equally to the work.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(03)00763-0Get rights and content
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Abstract

Objectives

The Southwest German Interventional Study in Acute Myocardial Infarction (SIAM III) investigated potentially beneficial effects of immediate stenting after thrombolysis as opposed to a more conservative treatment regimen.

Background

Treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by thrombolysis is compromised by Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 3 flow rates of only 60% and high re-occlusion rates of the infarct-related artery (IRA). Older studies showed no benefit of coronary angioplasty after thrombolysis compared with thrombolytic therapy alone. This observation has been challenged by the superiority of primary stenting over balloon angioplasty in AMI.

Methods

The SIAM III study was a multicenter, randomized, prospective, controlled trial in patients receiving thrombolysis in AMI (<12 h). Patients of group I were transferred within 6 h after thrombolysis for coronary angiography, including stenting of the IRA. Group II received elective coronary angiography two weeks after thrombolysis with stenting of the IRA.

Results

A total of 197 patients were randomized, 163 patients fulfilled the secondary (angiographic) inclusion criteria (82 in group I, 81 in group II). Immediate stenting was associated with a significant reduction of the combined end point after six months (ischemic events, death, reinfarction, target lesion revascularization 25.6% vs. 50.6%, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Immediate stenting after thrombolysis leads to a significant reduction of cardiac events compared with a more conservative approach including delayed stenting after two weeks.

Abbreviations

AMI
acute myocardial infarction
GP
glycoprotein
IRA
infarct-related artery
LV
left ventricular
MI
myocardial infarction
SIAM III
Southwest German Interventional Study in Acute Myocardial Infarction
TIMI
Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction

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