A prospective, randomized trial comparing combination half-dose tissue-type plasminogen activator and streptokinase with full-dose tissue-type plasminogen activator. Kentucky Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (KAMIT) Group

The recanalization after thrombolysis as surrogate for clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis of data from randomized controlled trials

AIMS

Thrombolytic therapy has been known to be effective in reducing clinical outcomes and increasing recanalization rate among patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, whether post-thrombolysis recanalization could be used as a surrogate for clinical outcomes is unknown.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library database to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT) that examined effects of thrombolytic agents in STEMI. Recanalization was defined as TIMI grade 2 or 3 flow. The primary outcome was in-hospital all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital and 30-day recurrent myocardial infarction (re-MI), composite of death and re-MI, major bleeding and all bleeding. Random-effects meta-regression was used for analysis.

RESULTS

We identified 111 eligible study arms and 52 eligible comparisons from 58 RCTs involving 16 536 patients. Our analyses showed that among study arms recanalization rate was significantly inversely associated with the incidence of in-hospital all-cause mortality (β: -0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.13 to -0.02), re-MI (β: -0.09, 95%CI: -0.18 to -0.01) and the composite of death and re-MI (β: -0.17, 95%CI: -0.28 to -0.05), and positively associated with in-hospital all bleeding but not with major bleeding. Among paired comparisons, the difference in recanalization rate was associated with the corresponding difference in incidence of in-hospital all-cause mortality (β: -0.15, 95%CI: -0.28 to -0.01) but the relationship was not significant for any other outcome.

CONCLUSION

Pooled evidence from RCTs suggest the potential use of recanalization as a surrogate for clinical outcomes in evaluating the efficacy of thrombolysis among patients with STEMI.

Understanding haemorrhagic risk following thrombolytic therapy in patients with intermediate-risk and high-risk pulmonary embolism: a hypothesis paper

While systemic intravenous thrombolysis decreases mortality in patients with high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE), it clearly increases haemorrhagic risk. There are many contraindications to thrombolysis, and efforts should aim at selecting those patients who will benefit most, without suffering complications. The current review summarises the evidence for the use of thrombolytic therapy in PE. It clarifies the pathophysiological mechanisms in PE and acute cor pulmonale that increase the risk of bleeding following thrombolysis. It discusses future management challenges, namely tailored drug administration, new treatment monitoring techniques and catheter-directed thrombolysis.

Controversies in the Treatment of Women with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in women. Women with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions continue to have worse outcomes compared with men despite advancements in therapies. Furthermore, these differences are particularly pronounced among young men and women with myocardial infarctions. Differences in the pathophysiology of coronary artery plaque development, disease presentation, and recognition likely contribute to these outcome disparities. Despite having worse outcomes compared with men, women clearly benefit from aggressive treatment and the latest therapies. This article reviews the treatment options for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions and the outcomes of women after treatment with reperfusion therapies.

Interventions for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Women

The management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has significantly advanced from supportive care to reperfusion therapies with thrombolytics and percutaneous coronary revascularization techniques. These advances have improved the outcomes of patients with STEMI. Although cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women, the minority of patients in trials studying the impact of these therapies on outcomes are women. Multiple studies have shown that men and women do not have equivalent outcomes after STEMI. This article reviews the treatment options for STEMI and the outcomes of women after treatment with reperfusion therapies.

Impact of Age on the Outcomes of Women Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the Bare-Metal Stent Era

AIM

Advanced age and female gender are both independent predictors of early and late mortality and adverse cardiac outcomes for patients undergoing balloon angioplasty. Elderly women are at particular risk. Stenting is now the standard of care in PCI. Whether elderly women remain at increased risk after PCI in the current stent era has not been examined widely.

METHODS

Prospective data were collected in 400 consecutive female patients undergoing PCI at a tertiary cardiac center (1999-2003). Follow-up was done at 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months by clinic visits, telephonic interviews, and reviewing hospital records. Follow-up was complete in 396 patients.

RESULTS

Compared to young women (<65 years old), elderly women (>65 years old) were less likely to smoke (15.7% vs 47.2%, P = 0.001), less likely to have diabetes (4.1% vs 8.5%, P = 0.05), and had more multivessel coronary artery disease. Usage of stent was high, similar in both groups. Hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, previous MI, vessels treated, abciximab usage, and access site bleeding were similar in both groups. Procedural success (96% vs 98%) and in-hospital and 1-year MACE (23.1% vs 25%) are similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Elderly women undergoing PCI have a distinct profile presenting with more multivessel disease, less smoking, and are less likely to have diabetes than younger women. In the current stent era, procedural success, in-hospital adverse cardiac events, and MACE at 1 year are similar in both groups. At 1 year, however, elderly women are less likely to have ischemia-driven TVR and recurrence of angina.

Efficacy and Safety of Low-Dose Streptokinase plus Desmopressin in Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Pilot Study

In this pilot study the combined use of desmopressin, which releases tissue plasminogen activator from vascular endothelium, and a low dose of streptokinase as a new thrombolytic regimen for acute myocardial infarction is proposed. Eighteen patients with acute myocardial infarction were treated intravenously with 150,000 U (4 patients) or 250,000 U (14 patients) of streptokinase infused over 10 minutes, followed by 24 µg of desmopressin infused over 5-10 minutes. Aspirin and beta-blockers were administered at admission, and heparin and oral anticoagulants were started at the end of the thrombolytic regimen. Hemostatic parameters were studied before and 30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes after starting thrombolytic therapy. Fifteen patients (83.3%) had evidence of clinical reperfusion. Angiography was performed with a mean delay of 8.8 hours (range 1.5-22 hours) from the start of thrombolytic therapy. Fourteen patients (77.8%) had patency of the infarct-related artery: 10 patients (55.6%) achieved TIMI grade 3, and 4 patients (22%) achieved TIMI grade 2. Two patients (one TIMI grade 1 and one TIMI grade 2) underwent coronary angioplasty. No patient died during the in-hospital period. At 18 months follow-up, all patients are alive. No major or minor bleeding was detected. The significant decline in plasma fibrinogen and in the euglobulin lysis time, and the increase in fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products, indicate a plasma lytic state. Crosslinked fibrin degradation products increased from 310 +/- 120 ng/ml to 670 +/- 310 ng/ml (p = 0.009), suggesting that fibrin digestion occurred in vivo. This pilot study provides data supporting the feasibility and efficacy of a new and more economic thrombolytic treatment of acute myocardial infarction without hemorrhagic complications.

Acute interventions for myocardial reperfusion

The primary goal of treatment in acute myocardial infarction is reperfusion of the infarct-related artery in as short a time as possible. Present strategies for acute reperfusion include the use of thrombolytic agents and a variety of catheter-based interventions. This article presents a brief review of these strategies and discusses the patient subsets better served by a particular type of intervention.

[Optimization of thrombolytic treatment in acute myocardial infarct: the role of new fibrinoselective drugs and their combination with new antithrombotics]

Although reperfusion therapy is well recognized as the mainstay of treatment of acute myocardial infarction, mortality of myocardial infarction is still high, thrombolytic treatment remains underutilized and, usually, applied too late. Additionally, most of the patients do not experience optimal reperfusion because of the suboptimal flow rate in the infarct-related artery, abnormal microvascular flow, and reocclusion of the infarct-related artery. Strategies to enhance the results of reperfusion therapy include, expanding the population of potential candidates, earlier treatment, and newer methods to improve infarct-related artery flow rates. In this sense, new thrombolytic agents, and combination therapies with or without addition of more potent and specific new antithrombotic agents are being extensively investigated. Also, it is important to promote studies of ancillary treatments to reduce reperfusion injury, which may be one cause of decreased microvascular flow. Although aspirin and heparin have been the conventionally used agents for inhibiting thrombin and platelet function, newer agents such as hirudin or hirulog and inhibitors of the platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa receptors are becoming available, and their clinical application will increase in the future.

[Pseudoaneurysm with associated arteriovenous fistula after transfemoral puncture]

BACKGROUND

Local vascular complications after transfemoral cardiac catheterization occur with an incidence of 5%. Most commonly these lesions are pseudoaneurysms, av-fistulas, arterial dissections or direct vascular injuries. Undiagnosed vascular lesions can lead to fatal consequences especially in patients with chronic heart failure by av-fistula with significant shunt volume.

CASE REPORT

We report a vascular complication of combined pseudoaneurysm and av-fistula originated from the pseudoaneurysm. The lesion was diagnosed by color Doppler ultrasound.

CONCLUSION

The suspicion of a vascular lesion after vascular catheterization should immediately lead to color Doppler ultrasound. Noninvasive duplexsonography will lead to early diagnosis of vascular complications and prompt further surgical or conservative intervention with reduction of long-term sequela and morbidity.

Angiographic study of mutant tissue-type plasminogen activator versus urokinase for acute myocardial infarction

The effects and problems of intravenous thrombolytic therapy with a bolus injection of mutant tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) were investigated in 34 patients with first acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In contrast, 114 patients were selected from 1,003 patients with AMI for treatment using intravenous infusion urokinase (UK). Angiography of these 148 patients revealed a complete occlusion of infarct-related artery with no clear contraindications to the study treatment. With the exception of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI-3) recanalization 60 min after a bolus injection of mutant t-PA, the patients were given intracoronary UK in addition to mutant t-PA. The study comparisons were assessed using the following criteria: (1) 60-min assessment of recanalization rates, mutant t-PA vs UK; (2) time interval from initiation of thrombolysis to recanalization, mutant t-PA vs UK; (3) angiographic reocclusion rates within 1 month, mutant t-PA alone vs UK vs mutant t-PA plus UK; and (4) intracerebral hemorrhage rates, mutant t-PA alone vs UK vs mutant t-PA plus UK. There were no significant differences in the recanalization rates between mutant t-PA and UK, but there was a significant reduction in the time to recanalization with mutant t-PA (31.8 +/- 12.7 min) compared with UK (56.5 +/- 6.3 min). There was a significant difference in the reocclusion rates among the 3 treatment groups (20% mutant t-PA alone vs 4% UK vs 0% mutant t-PA plus UK). On the other hand, no significant differences in intracerebral hemorrhage rates among the 3 treatments were observed. In conclusion, thrombolytic therapy with a bolus injection of mutant t-PA achieved more rapid recanalization, but treatment with mutant t-PA led to a high rate of reocclusion.

A prospective, randomized, double-blind multicenter trial of a single bolus injection of the novel modified t-PA E6010 in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction: comparison with native t-PA. E6010 Study Group

OBJECTIVES

This prospective, randomized, double-blind multicenter trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of a single bolus injection of the novel modified tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) E6010 in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction compared with that of native t-PA.

BACKGROUND

E6010 is a novel modified t-PA with a prolonged half-life (t1/2 alpha > or = 23 min) compared with native t-PA (t1/2 alpha = 4 min). E6010 can be administered in patients as a single intravenous bolus injection, and early recanalization can be expected.

METHODS

The efficacy of E6010 was compared with that of native t-PA in 199 patients with acute myocardial infarction who were treated within 6 h of onset in a prospective, randomized, double-blind multicenter trial. Patients were given either 0.22 mg/kg body weight of E6010 intravenously over 2 min or native t-PA (tisokinase) 28.8 mg or 14.4 million IU (10% of the total dose over 1 to 2 min, the remainder infused over 60 min).

RESULTS

The primary end point was the recanalization rate of the infarct-related coronary artery at 60 min after the start of treatment. Time to reperfusion was shorter in the E6010 group than in the native t-PA group. Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 2 or 3 recanalization at 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after administration was observed in 37%, 62%, 74% and 79% (95% confidence interval [CI] 70% to 87%) of the E6010-treated patients and in 14%, 32%, 50% and 65% (95% CI 55% to 74%) of native t-PA-treated patients, respectively (p = 0.032 at 60 min).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study indicates that, compared with native t-PA, a single bolus injection of E6010 over 2 min produces a higher rate of early recanalization of the infarct-related coronary artery without fatal bleeding complications.

Comparison of saruplase and alteplase in acute myocardial infarction. SESAM Study Group. The Study in Europe with Saruplase and Alteplase in Myocardial Infarction

Four hundred seventy-three patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were treated with either saruplase (80 mg/hour, n = 236) or alteplase (100 mg every 3 hours, n = 237). Comedication included heparin and acetylsalicylic acid. Angiography was performed at 45 and 60 minutes after the start of thrombolytic therapy. When flow was insufficient, angiography was repeated at 90 minutes. Coronary angioplasty was then performed if Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) trial 0 to 1 flow was seen. Control angiography was at 24 to 40 hours. Baseline characteristics were similar. Angiography showed comparable and remarkably high early patency rates (TIMI 2 or 3 flow) in both treatment groups: at 45 minutes, 74.6% versus 68.9% (p = 0.22); and at 60 minutes 79.9% versus 75.3% (p = 0.26). Patency rates at 90 minutes before additional interventions were also comparable (79.9% and 81.4%). Angiographic reocclusion rates were not significantly different: 1.2% versus 2.4% (p = 0.68). After rescue angioplasty, angiographic reocclusion rates of 22.0% and 15.0% were observed. Safety data were similar for both groups. Thus, (1) early patency rates were high for saruplase and alteplase treatment, (2) reocclusion rates for both drugs were remarkably low, and (3) complication rates were similar. Thus, saruplase seems to be as safe and effective as alteplase.

TIMI grade 3 flow and reocclusion after intravenous thrombolytic therapy: a pooled analysis

Early and sustained flow of grade 3 according to Thrombolysis in Myocardial infarction (TIMI) criteria and reocclusion rates are the key measures that define the physiologic efficacy of thrombolytic agents in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. We performed a systematic overview of angiographic studies after intravenous thrombolysis with accelerated and standard-dose tissue-plasminogen activator (TPA), anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (APSAC), and streptokinase. There were 5475 angiographic observations from 15 studies for TIMI flow analysis and 3147 angiographic observations from 27 studies for reocclusion. At 60 and 90 minutes, the rates of TIMI grade 3 flow were 57.1% and 63.2%, respectively, with accelerated TPA, 39.5% and 50.2% with standard-dose TPA, 40.2% and 50.1% with APSAC, and 31.5% at 90 minutes with streptokinase. Overall reocclusion with standard-dose TPA was 11.8% versus 6.0% for accelerated TPA, 4.2% for streptokinase, and 3.0% for APSAC. Although the incidence of TIMI grade 3 flow increased over time with all thrombolytic regimens, decreased patency was observed at 180 minutes with accelerated TPA. Still, accelerated TPA is the most effective agent to establish early (90-minute) TIMI grade 3 flow.

Thrombolysis: the development of unit guidelines

A challenge remains to develop guidelines for practice which facilitate safer and effective administration of thrombolytic agents following acute myocardial infarction. Clinical trials have proven that early reperfusion of ischaemic myocardium following rapid diagnosis, aspirin administration, analgesia and the instigation of an appropriate thrombolytic regime reduces mortality rates. Accordingly, as thrombolysis becomes the buzzword of the 1990s, controversy has resulted in substantial variations in practice of thrombolytic strategies within the UK (FTTCC 1994). The purpose of this review article is to consider the importance of current research and its application to current practices. Topics under discussion include thrombolytic agents, antistreptokinase antibody, time delay, eligibility for thrombolytic treatment, and clinically proven therapeutic regimes; with a suggested admission protocol that facilitates bi-directional communication minimising time delay and preventing inappropriate, cost-inefficient admissions to critical care areas. The results of this provide a logistical basis to thrombolytic therapy, and the subsequent development of effective and safe algorithmic guidelines in a busy medical intensive care unit.

Serial angiographic follow-up after successful direct angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction

This serial follow-up study was designed to identify the time course of reocclusion and/or restenosis after direct angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. Direct angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction was attempted in 160 patients. Of the 141 patients who underwent successful reperfusion and were discharged, 137 (97%) were enrolled in this study. At the 3-week follow-up study (100% eligible), angiographic restenosis of the infarct-related artery was documented in 21 patients (16%), 9 (43%) of which were reocclusions. At 4 months in 100 patients (92% of those eligible), restenosis was newly documented in 28 infarct-related arteries (28%), 3 of which were reocclusions (11%). At 1 year in 64 patient (89% of those eligible), restenosis was newly documented in 5 infarct-related arteries (7.8%), with no reocclusions. The cumulative restenosis rate was 20% at 3 weeks, 43% at 4 months, and 47% at 1 year; when divided into occlusive and nonocclusive types, restenosis rates were 12% and 8.8% at 3 weeks and 14% and 29% at 4 months, respectively. Restenosis was most prevalent within the first 4 months and rarely occurred after that. When restenosis is manifested as reocclusion, it occurs earlier than in nonocclusive restenosis, often within 3 weeks.

Implications of the GUSTO trial for thrombolytic therapy

This article discusses the impact of previous clinical observations on the development of the GUSTO-I protocol, particularly the absence of a survival benefit of alteplase (rt-PA) over streptokinase in the GISSI-2/International Study Group and ISIS-3 trials in spite of a higher efficacy for clot lysis. The demonstrated superiority of front-loaded alteplase in this large trial is translated into useful guidelines for the practising clinician. Risk-benefit analysis indicates that, in general, this thrombolytic regimen is most indicated in patients presenting with large amounts of jeopardized ischaemic myocardium in the absence of a particularly increased risk of haemorrhagic stroke. Finally, the impact of this study for future development in the field of acute coronary syndromes is evaluated, more specifically for the design of new trials with new fibrinolytic and antithrombotic agents. These include mutants of alteplase, staphylokinase, direct antithrombins and inhibitors of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa platelet receptor.

Influence of acute myocardial infarction location on in-hospital and late outcome after primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty versus tissue plasminogen activator therapy

In the Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction trial, 395 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were prospectively randomized to tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). In 138 patients with anterior wall AMI, in-hospital mortality was significantly reduced by treatment with PTCA compared with tPA (1.4% vs 11.9%, p = 0.01). PTCA also resulted in lower rates of death or reinfarction (1.4% vs 18.0%, p = 0.0009), recurrent myocardial ischemia (11.3% vs 28.4%, p = 0.01), and stroke (0.0% vs 6.0%, p = 0.037) in anterior wall AMI. The independent beneficial effect of treatment with primary PTCA rather than tPA in anterior wall AMI was confirmed by multivariate analysis and interaction testing. The in-hospital mortality of 257 patients with nonanterior wall AMI was similar after PTCA and tPA (3.2% vs 3.8%, p = 0.82). Compared with tPA, however, primary PTCA resulted in a markedly lower rate of recurrent myocardial ischemia (9.7% vs 27.8%, p = 0.0002), fewer unscheduled catheterization and revascularization procedures, and a shorter hospital stay (7.0 vs 8.6 days, p = 0.01) in nonanterior wall AMI. Thus, compared with tPA, primary PTCA in patients with anterior wall AMI results in significantly improved survival, with lower rates of stroke, reinfarction, and recurrent myocardial ischemia. In nonanterior wall AMI, treatment with PTCA and tPA results in similar early mortality, although PTCA-treated patients have a more stable hospital course characterized by reduced recurrent ischemia, fewer subsequent invasive procedures, and earlier discharge.

Gender differences in percutaneous interventional therapy of coronary artery disease

To determine what differences exist in angiographic parameters between men and women undergoing revascularization therapy for coronary heart disease that may indicate a gender difference, a retrospective review of patients admitted to one hospital for diagnosis of cardiac ischemic syndrome, and undergoing coronary arteriography, percutaneous interventional procedure, or coronary bypass surgery, was performed. Demographic, clinical, and angiographic parameters were evaluated in men and women, including body surface area, distribution of coronary lesions, size of target coronary vessels, and results of interventional procedures. Men and women undergoing percutaneous revascularization did not differ in regard to distribution or size of vessels or outcome. Previous data support the contention that women may undergo coronary arteriography and coronary artery bypass surgery less frequently than men. No evidence of differences existed in selecting patients for percutaneous intervention from those patients who underwent coronary arteriography. Men and women who underwent percutaneous intervention had similar baseline angiographic characteristics, yet men were more likely to receive a new device.

Emergency primary coronary angioplasty in patients with acute myocardial infarction who are unsuitable for intravenous thrombolysis

Intravenous thrombolytic therapy is now accepted as the standard method of achieving coronary reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction. There are several important limitations. Primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is an attractive method for reopening occluded coronary arteries. Between 1986 and 1993, 14 patients in whom there was an absolute contraindication to thrombolysis underwent emergency coronary angioplasty as the primary treatment for acute myocardial infarction. Coronary artery patency was restored in 13/14 (93%). One patient died in hospital. The median follow-up was one year. One patient suffered a further myocardial infarction and one patient required coronary artery bypass surgery at follow-up. Emergency coronary angioplasty services should be developed to treat those patients in whom there is a contraindication to thromboloysis.

Rescue thrombolysis: alteplase as adjuvant treatment after streptokinase in acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

In acute myocardial infarction patients who do not reperfuse their infarct arteries shortly after thrombolytic treatment have a high morbidity and mortality. Management of this high risk group remains problematic, especially in centres without access to interventional cardiology. Additional thrombolytic treatment may result in reperfusion and improved left ventricular function.

METHODS

Failure of reperfusion was assessed non-invasively as less than 25% reduction of ST elevation in the electrocardiographic lead with maximum ST shift on a pretreatment electrocardiogram. 37 patients with acute myocardial infarction who showed electrocardiographic evidence of failed reperfusion 30 minutes after 1.5 MU streptokinase over 60 minutes were randomly allocated to receive either alteplase (tissue type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) 100 mg over three hours) (19 patients) or placebo (18 patients). 43 patients with electrocardiographic evidence of reperfusion after streptokinase acted as controls. Outcome was assessed from the Selvester Q wave score of a predischarge electrocardiogram and a nuclear gated scan for left ventricular ejection fraction 4-6 weeks after discharge.

RESULTS

Among patients in whom ST segment elevation was not reduced after streptokinase, alteplase treatment resulted in a significantly smaller electrocardiographic infarct size (14% (8%) v 20% (9%), P = 0.03) and improved left ventricular ejection fraction (44 (10%) v 34% (16%), P = 0.04) compared with placebo. This benefit was confined to patients who failed fibrinogenolysis after streptokinase (fibrinogen > 1 g/l). In patients in whom ST segment elevation was reduced after streptokinase, infarct size and left ventricular ejection fraction were not significantly different from those in patients treated with additional alteplase.

CONCLUSION

Patients without electrocardiographic evidence of reperfusion after streptokinase may benefit from further thrombolysis with alteplase.

Implications of recurrent ischemia after reperfusion therapy in acute myocardial infarction: a comparison of thrombolytic therapy and primary angioplasty

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence and implications of recurrent ischemia after different reperfusion strategies in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND

The rates and effects of recurrent ischemia after reperfusion with thrombolytic therapy and with primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty have not been compared.

METHODS

At 12 centers 395 patients presenting within 12 h of the onset of acute myocardial infarction were prospectively randomized to receive recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) or primary coronary angioplasty. Sixteen clinical variables were examined by using univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis to identify the predictors of recurrent ischemia. The relation of recurrent ischemic events to patient outcome was analyzed.

RESULTS

Recurrent ischemia developed in 76 patients (19.2%) before hospital discharge, resulting in reinfarction in 18 patients (4.6%) and death in 5 (2.6%). Recurrent ischemia occurred in 56 patients (28.0%) after rt-PA but in only 20 patients (10.3%) after coronary angioplasty (p < 0.0001), directly contributing to a higher rate of death or reinfarction (7.5% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.05), catheterization and revascularization procedures and prolonged hospital stay after thrombolysis. By multivariate analysis, treatment with coronary angioplasty rather than rt-PA was the strongest predictor of freedom from recurrent ischemia. Although the incidence of recurrent ischemia after angioplasty and after rt-PA was similar within the 1st 2 days of admission (9.2% vs. 14.5%, p = 0.11), after hospital day 2 recurrent ischemia occurred in only 2 patients who received primary angioplasty compared with 27 patients who received rt-PA (1.1% vs. 13.5%, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The development of recurrent ischemia adversely affects patient outcome, increasing morbidity, mortality and resource utilization. The much lower rate of recurrent ischemia after primary coronary angioplasty than after rt-PA results in improved survival without reinfarction and allows a shorter, less complicated hospital stay. Given the extremely low rate of recurrent ischemia after hospital day 2, safe early discharge on day 3 after primary coronary angioplasty should be feasible in selected patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Comparison of in-hospital outcome in men versus women treated by either thrombolytic therapy or primary coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction

At 12 centers, 395 patients, including 288 men (73%) and 107 women (27%) with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), were prospectively randomized to treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) or primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Compared with men, women were older (65.7 vs 57.7 years, p < 0.0001), more often had diabetes mellitus (19% vs 10%, p = 0.03), systemic hypertension (54% vs 39%, p = 0.005), prior congestive heart failure (5% vs 0%, p = 0.002), and presented later after symptom onset (229 vs 174 minutes, p = 0.0004). The in-hospital mortality in women was 3.3-fold higher than men (9.3% vs 2.8%, p = 0.005). After adjustment for comorbid baseline characteristics, however, only advanced age independently correlated with mortality. Among t-PA-treated patients, mortality was significantly higher in women than in men (14.0% vs 3.5%, p = 0.006). Intracranial hemorrhage after t-PA was also more common in women than in men (5.3% vs 0.7%, p = 0.037). In contrast, women and men had similar in-hospital mortality after primary PTCA (4.0% vs 2.1%, respectively, p = 0.46). No intracranial bleeding occurred in PTCA-treated patients. A univariate trend was present for reduced in-hospital mortality in women treated with PTCA rather than t-PA (4.0% vs 14.0%, p = 0.07). By multiple logistic regression analysis of 15 clinical variables, treatment with PTCA rather than t-PA, as well as younger age, were independently predictive of in-hospital survival in women.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Predictors of in-hospital and 6-month outcome after acute myocardial infarction in the reperfusion era: the Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction (PAMI) trail

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the predictors of in-hospital and 6-month outcome after different reperfusion strategies in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND

Thrombolytic therapy and primary angioplasty are both widely applied as reperfusion modalities in patients with myocardial infarction. Although it is accepted that restoration of early patency of the infarct-related artery can reduce mortality and salvage myocardium, the optimal reperfusion strategy remains controversial, and the predictors of outcome in the reperfusion era have been incompletely characterized.

METHODS

At 12 centers, 395 patients presenting within 12 h of onset of acute transmural myocardial infarction were prospectively randomized to receive tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) or undergo primary angioplasty without antecedent thrombolysis. Sixteen clinical variables were examined with univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis to identify the predictors of clinical outcome.

RESULTS

By univariate analysis, in-hospital mortality was increased in the elderly, women, patients with diabetes and in patients treated with t-PA as opposed to angioplasty. Only advanced age and treatment by t-PA versus angioplasty independently correlated with increased in-hospital mortality (6.5% vs. 2.6%, respectively, p = 0.039 by multiple logistic regression analysis). Similarly, the only variables independently related to in-hospital death or nonfatal reinfarction were advanced age and treatment by t-PA versus angioplasty (12.0% vs. 5.1%, p = 0.02). The reduction in in-hospital death or reinfarction with angioplasty versus t-PA was particularly marked in patients > or = 65 years of age (8.6% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.048). Furthermore, primary management with angioplasty versus t-PA was the most powerful multivariate correlate of freedom from recurrent ischemic events (10.3% vs. 28.0%, p = 0.0001). The independent beneficial effect of angioplasty on freedom from death or reinfarction was maintained at 6-month follow-up (8.2% vs. 17.0%, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

In the reperfusion era, the two most powerful determinants of freedom from death, reinfarction and recurrent ischemia after myocardial infarction are young age and treatment by primary angioplasty.

A pooled analysis of coronary arterial patency and left ventricular function after intravenous thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction

Individual studies of patency rates and left ventricular (LV) function after thrombolysis have generally been limited by small numbers of observations, wide confidence intervals, and limited numbers of time points. To obtain a more reliable estimate of patterns of patency and LV ejection fraction, a systemic overview of angiographic studies was performed after intravenous thrombolytic therapy. A total of 14,124 angiographic observations from 58 studies evaluating patency after no thrombolytic agent, streptokinase, standard dose tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), accelerated dose t-PA, or anistreplase (anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex [APSAC]) were included. At 60 and 90 minutes, streptokinase had the lowest patency rates of 48% and 51%, respectively, standard dose t-PA and APSAC had similar intermediate rates of approximately 60% and 70%, and accelerated t-PA had the highest patency rates of 74% and 84%. By 2 to 3 hours and longer, the patency rates were similar for the various regimens. Reocclusion rates in studies including 1,172 patients randomized to t-PA versus a nonfibrin-specific agent were higher after t-PA (13.4% vs 8.0%, p = 0.002). Ten studies enrolling 4,088 patients treated with thrombolytic therapy versus control demonstrated a modest improvement in mean LV ejection fraction in the thrombolytic group at each of the times after thrombolytic therapy: hour 4, day 1, day 4, day 7 to 10, and day 10 to 28 after thrombolysis. By 4 days, mean ejection fraction was 53% versus 47% (thrombolytic vs control therapy, p < 0.01); by 10 to 28 days it was 54.1% and 51.5%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of front-loaded recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator, anistreplase and combination thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction: results of the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 4 trial

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to determine a superior thrombolytic regimen from three: anistreplase (APSAC), front-loaded recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) or combination thrombolytic therapy.

BACKGROUND

Although thrombolytic therapy has been shown to reduce mortality and morbidity after acute myocardial infarction, it has not been clear whether more aggressive thrombolytic-antithrombotic regimens could improve the outcome achieved with standard regimens.

METHODS

To address this issue, 382 patients with acute myocardial infarction were randomized to receive in a double-blind fashion (along with intravenous heparin and aspirin) APSAC, front-loaded rt-PA or a combination of both agents. The primary end point "unsatisfactory outcome" was a composite clinical end point assessed through hospital discharge.

RESULTS

Patency of the infarct-related artery (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] grade 2 or 3 flow) at 60 min after the start of thrombolysis was significantly higher in rt-PA-treated patients (77.8% vs. 59.5% for APSAC-treated patients and 59.3% for combination-treated patients [rt-PA vs. APSAC, p = 0.02; rt-PA vs. combination, p = 0.03]). At 90 min, the incidence of both infarct-related artery patency and TIMI grade 3 flow was significantly higher in rt-PA-treated patients (60.2% had TIMI grade 3 flow vs. 42.9% and 44.8% of APSAC- and combination-treated patients, respectively [rt-PA vs. APSAC, p < 0.01; rt-PA vs. combination, p = 0.02]). The incidence of unsatisfactory outcome was 41.3% for rt-PA compared with 49% for APSAC and 53.6% for the combination (rt-PA vs. APSAC, p = 0.19; rt-PA vs. combination, p = 0.06). The mortality rate at 6 weeks was lowest in the rt-PA-treated patients (2.2% vs. 8.8% for APSAC and 7.2% for combination thrombolytic therapy [rt-PA vs. APSAC, p = 0.02; rt-PA vs. combination, p = 0.06]).

CONCLUSIONS

Front-loaded rt-PA achieved significantly higher rates of early reperfusion and was associated with trends toward better overall clinical benefit and survival than those achieved with a standard thrombolytic agent or combination thrombolytic therapy. These findings support the concept that more rapid reperfusion of the infarct-related artery is associated with improved clinical outcome.

Peripheral vascular complications of coronary angioplasty by the femoral and brachial techniques

In order to monitor the incidence and types of peripheral vascular complications in a single institution, we prospectively entered 1,579 coronary angioplasty cases into a computer data base during the years 1991 and 1992. Various periprocedural risk factors were analyzed. The patients were followed closely to identify complications that occurred outside the laboratory or after discharge from the hospital. Peripheral vascular complications occurred in 37 patients (2.37%) and included hematoma 20 (1.27%), retroperitoneal bleeding 7 (.44%), false aneurysm 6 (.38%), occlusion 1 (.06%), infection 2 (.13%), and cholesterol emboli 1 (.06%). Risk factors for complications by multivariate analysis were older age, female gender, and clinical evidence of peripheral vascular disease. Other factors potentially related to vascular trauma or bleeding tendency that were not risk factors in this series were clinical presentation, use of heparin or thrombolytic agents, blood clotting parameters, and arterial sheath size. There was no significant difference between the femoral and brachial approaches in frequency of complications (2.5% vs. 1.6%), but femoral complications tended to carry greater morbidity.

Frequency of inclusion of patients with cardiogenic shock in trials of thrombolytic therapy

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which patients with cardiogenic shock have participated in trials of thrombolytic therapy, to examine factors associated with their exclusion from these trials, and to summarize data on the efficacy of thrombolysis in these patients. Previous publications were searched for all randomized, controlled studies involving the use of thrombolytic medications used in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Data were abstracted for year of trial publication, performance location, sample size, maximal allowable delay between symptom onset and treatment, and exclusion criteria. Of the 94 trials included in the analysis, 22% included patients with cardiogenic shock, 37% excluded them, and the remainder contained no information on their inclusion or exclusion. Only 2 trials provided data on the efficacy of thrombolytic therapy in patients with cardiogenic shock. Multivariate analysis revealed that studies conducted exclusively in the U.S. were significantly more likely to exclude patients in cardiogenic shock than those conducted outside of the U.S., as were studies that excluded patients with a previous myocardial infarction, studies published more recently, and smaller trials. Patients with cardiogenic shock have frequently been excluded from clinical trials of thrombolytic agents. As a result, data on the efficacy of thrombolytic agents in these patients is extremely limited.

Thrombolytic retreatment with tissue plasminogen activator for threatened reinfarction and thrombotic coronary reocclusion

Following successful coronary arterial thrombolysis, thrombogenic substrate persists, increasing the risk of recurrent thrombosis, reocclusion, and reinfarction. The preferred treatment in this setting has not been established. Although many patients receive mechanical revascularization, it is conceivable that repeat thrombolysis, primarily with tissue plasminogen activator, represents the most readily available and effective alternative.

Relation of reperfusion success with anistreplase or alteplase in acute myocardial infarction to body weight. The TEAM-3 investigators

Adjustment in dose based on body size is not recommended currently for thrombolytic regimens, except for a reduction in alteplase (recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator [rt-PA]) dose for safety reasons in patients with low body weight. It is unresolved how to dose thrombolytic agents in very heavy patients. The study objective was to assess whether patency of the infarct-related artery at 1 day after therapy with anistreplase (anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex [APSAC]) or rt-PA is adversely affected by increased body weight. Data were analyzed from a double-blind, randomized, comparative study of APSAC (30 U/5 min) versus rt-PA (100 mg/3 hours, adjusted downward for body weight < 65 kg), together with heparin and aspirin, in patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting within 4 hours of symptom onset. Coronary patency, determined at 1 day, was assessed in a blinded fashion, and patency success was correlated with body weight, divided into quintiles. In patients treated with APSAC, coronary patency rates were similar in those in the upper quintile of body weight (> 94 kg; n = 22) and in the low-normal weight group (n = 126) (86 and 90%, respectively, for perfusion grade 2/3 [p = 0.64]; and 82 and 74%, respectively, for grade 3 [p = 0.42]). In contrast, for the rt-PA group, heavy patients (n = 34) achieved significantly lower patency rates (74 vs 89% for grade 2/3 [p = 0.02]; and 59 vs 77% for grade 3 [p = 0.03]). The dose of heparin administered, adjusted to maintain a therapeutic partial thromboplastin time until the 1-day (mean 28 hours) angiogram, was greater in the heavy than in the low-normal weight group (mean +/- SE 39,680 +/- 4,818 vs 30,027 +/- 1,177 U; p = 0.007).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Validation of the early open infarct vessel hypothesis

The insights from the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and t-PA for Occluded Arteries (GUSTO) trial have paved the way for further refinement in myocardial reperfusion strategies. For the moment, there is a better pharmacologic approach for achieving rapid and complete coronary thrombolysis. However, for the future, the legacy from this project is much more meaningful, providing clear-cut validation of the "early open vessel hypothesis" while at the same time exemplifying how deficient our strategies for reperfusion are today. There are explicit signals for persistent, meaningful improvement in the years ahead.

Use of composite endpoints in thrombolysis trials of acute myocardial infarction

Although preventing early mortality following acute myocardial infarction (MI) is the most important goal of thrombolytic therapy, insistence on its use as the only or principal endpoint in trials of acute MI will limit the number of new thrombolytic-antithrombotic regimens that can be tested, and thus may inhibit future progress of this important area of cardiovascular therapeutics. Trials of thrombolytic therapy over the past decade, as discussed in this article, have demonstrated that: (1) thrombolytic therapy improves both mortality and intermediate endpoints, and (2) intermediate nonfatal endpoints are strongly linked to long-term mortality. Taken together, these facts provide strong evidence that intermediate nonfatal events can be used as valid endpoints in future trials of thrombolytic therapy. The unsatisfactory outcome composite endpoint, which incorporates mortality and important intermediate endpoints, will make it possible to compare innovative new regimens in much smaller trials. Ultimately, both of these approaches (i.e., megatrials using a mortality endpoint and smaller trials utilizing a composite unsatisfactory outcome endpoint) can be used in a complementary fashion. A new regimen could first be tested using the unsatisfactory outcome endpoint; if it showed particular promise, it could then become a candidate for testing in a megatrial. Conversely, if it did not prove better than standard regimens, futile research in tens of thousands of patients might be prevented. Thus, the use of composite endpoints will expand the number of new thrombolytic-antithrombotic regimens that can be tested and, it is hoped, accelerate progress in the treatment of acute MI.

The GUSTO trial: background and baseline characteristics

The GUSTO study was designed to test the hypothesis that achieving early sustained patency with a thrombolytic regimen in acute coronary thrombosis would improve mortality. Four regimens were compared. In 41,021 patients randomised, nearly 3000 of these were in Australia and New Zealand. These regimens were streptokinase (SK) with subcutaneous heparin (9841 patients), SK and intravenous heparin (10,410 patients), accelerated tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and intravenous heparin (10,396 patients) and combined SK and t-PA (10,374 patients). The patients were well matched for baseline characteristics. The mean time to treatment was two hours. The accompanying regimen of investigation and revascularisation was aggressive--58% receiving angiography (28% in Australia), 15% angioplasty (5% in Australia) and 9% bypass surgery (4% in Australia). The GUSTO trial results should be interpreted in the light of these background observations.

An international randomized trial comparing four thrombolytic strategies for acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

The relative efficacy of streptokinase and tissue plasminogen activator and the roles of intravenous as compared with subcutaneous heparin as adjunctive therapy in acute myocardial infarction are unresolved questions. The current trial was designed to compare new, aggressive thrombolytic strategies with standard thrombolytic regimens in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Our hypothesis was that newer thrombolytic strategies that produce earlier and sustained reperfusion would improve survival.

METHODS

In 15 countries and 1081 hospitals, 41,021 patients with evolving myocardial infarction were randomly assigned to four different thrombolytic strategies, consisting of the use of streptokinase and subcutaneous heparin, streptokinase and intravenous heparin, accelerated tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and intravenous heparin, or a combination of streptokinase plus t-PA with intravenous heparin. ("Accelerated" refers to the administration of t-PA over a period of 1 1/2 hours--with two thirds of the dose given in the first 30 minutes--rather than the conventional period of 3 hours.) The primary end point was 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

The mortality rates in the four treatment groups were as follows: streptokinase and subcutaneous heparin, 7.2 percent; streptokinase and intravenous heparin, 7.4 percent; accelerated t-PA and intravenous heparin, 6.3 percent, and the combination of both thrombolytic agents with intravenous heparin, 7.0 percent. This represented a 14 percent reduction (95 percent confidence interval, 5.9 to 21.3 percent) in mortality for accelerated t-PA as compared with the two streptokinase-only strategies (P = 0.001). The rates of hemorrhagic stroke were 0.49 percent, 0.54 percent, 0.72 percent, and 0.94 percent in the four groups, respectively, which represented a significant excess of hemorrhagic strokes for accelerated t-PA (P = 0.03) and for the combination strategy (P < 0.001), as compared with streptokinase only. A combined end point of death or disabling stroke was significantly lower in the accelerated-tPA group than in the streptokinase-only groups (6.9 percent vs. 7.8 percent, P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this large-scale trial indicate that accelerated t-PA given with intravenous heparin provides a survival benefit over previous standard thrombolytic regimens.

A comparison of immediate angioplasty with thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. The Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction Study Group

BACKGROUND

The success of thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction is limited by bleeding complications, the impossibility of reperfusing all occluded coronary arteries, recurrent myocardial ischemia, and the relatively small number of patients who are appropriate candidates for this therapy. We hypothesized that these problems could be overcome by the use of immediate percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), without previous thrombolytic therapy.

METHODS

At 12 clinical centers, 395 patients who presented within 12 hours of the onset of myocardial infarction were treated with intravenous heparin and aspirin and then randomly assigned to undergo immediate PTCA (without previous thrombolytic therapy, 195 patients) or to receive intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA, 200 patients) followed by conservative care. Radionuclide ventriculography was performed to assess ventricular function within 24 hours and at six weeks.

RESULTS

Among the patients randomly assigned to PTCA, 90 percent underwent the procedure; the success rate was 97 percent, and no patient required emergency coronary-artery bypass surgery. The in-hospital mortality rates in the t-PA and PTCA groups were 6.5 and 2.6 percent, respectively (P = 0.06). In a post hoc analysis, the mortality rates in the subgroups classified as "not low risk" were 10.4 and 2.0 percent, respectively (P = 0.01). Reinfarction or death in the hospital occurred in 12.0 percent of the patients treated with t-PA and 5.1 percent of those treated with PTCA (P = 0.02). Intracranial bleeding occurred more frequently among patients who received t-PA than among those who underwent PTCA (2.0 vs. 0 percent, P = 0.05). The mean (+/- SD) ejection fractions at rest (53 +/- 13 vs. 53 +/- 13 percent) and during exercise (56 +/- 13 vs. 56 +/- 14 percent) were similar in the t-PA and PTCA groups at six weeks. By six months, reinfarction or death had occurred in 32 patients who received t-PA (16.8 percent) and 16 treated with PTCA (8.5 percent, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

As compared with t-PA therapy for acute myocardial infarction, immediate PTCA reduced the combined occurrence of nonfatal reinfarction or death, was associated with a lower rate of intracranial hemorrhage, and resulted in similar left ventricular systolic function.

Myocardial infarct artery patency and reocclusion rates after treatment with duteplase at the dose used in the International Study of Infarct Survival-3. Burroughs Wellcome Study Group

Duteplase, 98% double-chain recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator, was administered intravenously in 488 patients with acute myocardial infarction in a multicenter, open, safety and patency study. Duteplase dosing was based on body weight. Duteplase was administered as a bolus of 0.04 MIU/kg of thrombolytic activity followed by 0.36 MIU/kg over 1 hour and 0.067 MIU/kg/hour for 3 additional hours. The patency rate of the infarct-related artery at 90 minutes was 69% (330 of 478). The reocclusion rate at 3 to 48 hours was 6% (18 of 301). Reinfarction occurred in 7.6% of patients (37 of 488), but 12 reinfarctions occurred after coronary angioplasty. Serious bleeding occurred in 7.6% of patients (37 of 488), predominantly at the catheterization entry site. There were 3 instances of central nervous system bleeding, 1 fatal. Fibrinogen levels declined to 83% of baseline at 24 hours. Weight-based dosing may explain the low incidence of serious bleeding in this study. The in-hospital mortality was 6.6% (32 of 488). This study documents that the dose of duteplase used in the International Study of Infarct Survival-3 results in a 90-minute coronary artery patency rate and safety profile comparable to those reported in published studies on the approved dose of alteplase.

Thrombolytic, antiplatelet, and antithrombotic agents

The relative efficacy and safety of individual thrombolytic agents, administered alone and with antiplatelet and antithrombotic drugs, in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction are presented. The clinical benefits and risks of treatment choices are discussed in relation to the mechanisms of the formation and prevention of thrombus and thrombolysis. It is concluded that streptokinase, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), and anisoylated plasminogen-streptokinase activator complex (APSAC) significantly reduce mortality and improve left ventricular function equally, despite differences in the rate at which they achieve vascular patency, their durations of action, and the extent to which their use is associated with adverse events. The questions of how best to minimize reocclusion/reinfarction, bleeding, and stroke are discussed, with particular focus on the beneficial use of aspirin and the unresolved issue of how best to use heparin.

Direct angioplasty versus initial thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction: long-term follow-up and changes in practice pattern

We retrospectively studied the outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction who were treated with either direct angioplasty or thrombolytics followed by angioplasty. Two patient cohorts were analyzed: a previously reported (in regard to short-term follow-up) group of 371 patients who now have long-term follow-up (mean, 3.4 years) of survival and event-free survival and a second group of 202 patients who have been treated since publication of our initial data. Both 1-year and 2-year survival were significantly better (p = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively) in the group that was treated with thrombolytics first. Event-free survival (i.e., no myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, repeat angioplasty) was better overall (p < 0.01) for the group that was treated with thrombolytics first. The more recently treated group of patients also showed benefit in regard to both survival (p = 0.002) and event-free survival (p < 0.01) over a short-term follow-up period (mean, 39 weeks) for patients who were treated initially with thrombolytics as compared with those who were treated with direct angioplasty. Although the initial cohort was very similar to the treatment groups except for age (mean age for the direct angioplasty group was 62 +/- 12 years vs 57 +/- 11 years for thrombolytics first group, (p = 0.0002), several differences existed in the more recent treatment groups. The patients who were more recently treated with direct angioplasty were older, had lower mean ejection fraction, had more extensive coronary artery disease, and were more likely to have had prior coronary artery bypass grafting.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)