Clinical outcome of patients treated with intravenous urokinase for acute myocardial infarction

Only few studies have previously evaluated intravenous urokinase as thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. In 266 patients (81 % men, 19 % women, mean age 60 +/- 12 years) the major clinical outcomes were evaluated retrospectively after treatment with intravenous urokinase for AMT. A total of 2 million urokinase was infused over a 30 min period and an additional million urokinase in patients who had clinical signs of a persistent ischemia (chest pain). All patients received intravenous heparin and aspirin 325 mg (orally). In 27 patients (10,2 %) minor bleeding without clinical consequence was observed. 3,1 % of patients died during the first day, 4,3 % during the first 7 days, 5,5 % during the first 35 days and 7,5 % during the first 6 months. The use of intravenous urokinase in patients with acute myocardial infarction is associated with a low incidence of bleeding complications and a success rate comparable to other thrombolytic regimes.