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INITIAL HEPARIN THERAPY IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION
Canadian Medical Association Journal
|June 13, 1964
Summary
Early intravenous heparin administration following acute myocardial infarction (MI) did not reduce mortality. This treatment also failed to prevent impending myocardial infarction in patients with acute coronary insufficiency.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Heparin administration is common practice in acute myocardial infarction (MI) and acute coronary insufficiency.
- This practice has been adopted without robust clinical trial evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of early intermittent intravenous heparin in reducing mortality in acute myocardial infarction.
- To determine if heparin prevents impending myocardial infarction in acute coronary insufficiency.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 206 patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction.
- Patients received either heparin (100 mg IV every 8 hours for 48 hours) or a placebo, alongside bishydroxycoumarin (Dicumarol).
Main Results:
- Mortality rates were similar between groups: 30% in the heparin group versus 28% in the control group.
- A higher incidence of confirmed myocardial infarction was observed in heparin-treated patients.
Conclusions:
- Early intermittent intravenous heparin does not decrease mortality in acute myocardial infarction.
- Heparin treatment does not prevent impending myocardial infarction in patients with acute coronary insufficiency.