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Updated: May 6, 2026

Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 18, 2018
Current and future perspectives on antithrombotic therapy of acute myocardial infarction
C H Hennekens1, C J O'Donnell, P M Ridker
1Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Boston 02215-1204, USA.
Insights
Antithrombotic therapy is recommended for acute myocardial infarction. Ongoing trials will determine if aspirin alone or with anticoagulants like heparin or hirudin offers the best benefit for patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Antithrombotic therapy is standard for acute myocardial infarction.
- Optimal antithrombotic regimen remains under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the net benefit of different antithrombotic strategies in acute myocardial infarction.
- To inform clinical decisions and policy guidelines.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of ongoing randomized trials (GUSTO-2, TIMI-9) evaluating aspirin with heparin or hirudin in patients receiving thrombolytic therapy.
- Inclusion of data from the First American Study of Infarct Survival (ASIS-1) for patients not receiving thrombolytic therapy.
Main Results:
- Ongoing trials (GUSTO-2, TIMI-9) will provide data on aspirin plus heparin or hirudin with thrombolysis.
- ASIS-1 will offer insights for patients not receiving thrombolytic therapy.
Conclusions:
- Further data from ongoing trials are needed to establish optimal antithrombotic therapy for acute myocardial infarction.
- Evidence will enable informed clinical decisions and guideline development for antithrombotic treatment.
Abstract:
Randomised trials of coronary artery patency and mortality support the routine use of antithrombotic therapy in all patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction. At present, it is unclear whether antiplatelet therapy with aspirin alone will suffice or the addition of anticoagulation with either heparin or the newer specific thrombin inhibitor, hirudin, will confer a net benefit. The ongoing randomised trials, such as GUSTO-2 and TIMI-9, will provide relevant information on the use of aspirin plus heparin or aspirin plus hirudin in patients treated with thrombolytic therapy. The First American Study of Infarct Survival (ASIS-1) will provide data which are relevant to the large population of patients who, in the United States, do not receive thrombolytic therapy. When these data become available it will be possible for clinicians to make rational individual decisions and policy-makers to formulate guidelines concerning optimal antithrombotic therapy in myocardial infarction.
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