Activase t-PA data

In an angiographic substudy of the GUSTO trial data, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, t-PA led to earlier opening of blocked arteries, which was associated with increased survival. In the 2,400 patients who received t-PA, as opposed to other clot-busting drugs, mortality at 30 days was 4.4 percent in patients whose coronary arteries were open at 90 minutes following treatment, compared to 8.9 percent in patients with no flow at 90 minutes (p < 0.009).

Patients who received t-PA had a patency rate of 81 percent after 90 minutes as compared to 54 percent in patients who received streptokinase and subcutaneous heparin (p <0 .001). Functioning of the affected ventricle of the heart at 90 minutes was consistently worse in the patients who later died, than in those who survived for 30 days or more. Those with left ventricular function measured by an ejection fraction of 45 percent or more had a mortality rate of 3.9 percent, as compared to 14.7 percent in those with poorer ventricular function (p < 0.001). ...