Thrombolysis plus heparin versus heparin alone in the acute phases of unstable angina: preliminary findings

Abstract Several studies have shown conflicting effects of thrombolysis in patients with unstable angina. In these trials the time between presentation with chest pain and randomization was long (12 hours to 3 days). This study compared thrombolysis and heparin with heparin-alone treatment in patients in the acute phase of unstable angina. One hundred fifty-three consecutive patients hospitalized with chest pain at rest (first episode) lasting >5 minutes but P = 0.013). Data suggest that thrombolysis plus heparin produces faster clinical stabilization than heparin alone in patients treated during the acute phase of unstable angina.