Document Detail


Optimising thrombolytic therapy in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  8785464     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and its subsequent mortality increases with age. However, elderly patients are less likely to receive thrombolytic therapy. Among other reasons, this may be because elderly patients with evolving MI often have atypical signs and symptoms and delay their presentation for medical treatment by 2 hours compared with younger patients. The risk of (most often fatal) cerebral bleeding in elderly patients treated with aspirin, heparin and thrombolytic drugs is about 1 to 2 per 1000 patients, and is 2 times higher than in younger patients. In order to decrease the incidence of intracranial haemorrhage in elderly patients with acute MI, thrombolytic treatment should not be recommended in patients at increased risk of cerebral bleeding. Otherwise, the benefit of thrombolytic treatment outweigh the risk; for every 1000 elderly patients treated with thrombolytic drugs, approximately 36 are saved compared with those receiving control treatment.
Authors:
M Verstraete; D Collen
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Drugs & aging     Volume:  8     ISSN:  1170-229X     ISO Abbreviation:  Drugs Aging     Publication Date:  1996 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1996-09-26     Completed Date:  1996-09-26     Revised Date:  2005-11-16    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9102074     Medline TA:  Drugs Aging     Country:  NEW ZEALAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  17-22     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, University of Leuven, Belgium.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged*
Humans
Middle Aged
Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy*,  mortality
Risk Factors
Thrombolytic Therapy*

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