Assessment of intravenous streptokinase therapy in acute myocardial infarction

Ten patients presenting within 6 hours of myocardial infarction, without contraindication for thrombolytic therapy, were given intravenous (IV) streptokinase (STK) 750,000 units in 15-30 min by infusion followed by anticoagulant therapy. Treatment was started within 241-360 min after the onset of symptoms. Fifteen other patients were given standard treatment without STK. Reperfusion was observed after a mean duration of 46 min in 7 patients in the STK group and none in the non-STK group. The results of IV STK thrombolytic therapy are comparable with those of previous studies using IV STK.