Intravenous Urokinase in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Summary

Two noncomparative multicentre studies investigated the clinical efficacy and tolerability of urokinase in patients with acute myocardial infarction. In a preliminary study in 364 patients, the mortality rate was 7.4% during the 2-week period after infusion with urokinase 2.1 million units over about 24 hours compared with a lower value of 4.4% in the main study in 634 patients over the same period, but after infusion with urokinase 2 million units over less than 3.25 hours. In both the preliminary and main studies, there was a low incidence of adverse effects (4.9% vs 3.2% of patients, respectively) and, in particular, of major bleeding complications. Global tolerability was considered good or very good in 95% of patients in the main study. Thus, the intravenous infusion of urokinase 2 million units over < 3.25 hours offers high therapeutic activity together with excellent tolerability.