Unresolved clinical pharmacologic questions in thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction

Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140.

Thrombolytic therapy has now become established as a useful therapeutic measure for the immediate treatment of an acute evolving transmural infarction. Nevertheless, several important and fundamental aspects of a pharmacologic nature remain to be resolved. Prominent among these is whether or not fibrin specificity of a thrombolytic agent provides important benefits, and whether heparin therapy as commonly employed to prevent rethrombosis has been effective. Review of the available data raises serious questions as to the validity of current views and the appropriateness of prevailing trends.