Threatened reinfarction. Effective therapy using streptokinase with reversal of cardiogenic shock

Abstract

Thrombolytic therapy has an established niche in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. One view, often rigidly held, is that this therapy should be attempted only if ischemic pain is present for less than four hours. Additionally, treatment is often reserved for those with an anterior infarction, a subgroup that did well in early reports. This case report demonstrates an impressive reversal of cardiogenic shock after streptokinase therapy in a patient who experienced an inferior infarction. His chest pain and ST elevations were present for more than nine hours at the commencement of treatment.