The Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 2 (TIMI II) Trial

Objectives:

To compare the following two treatment strategies in patients with acute myocardial infarcton: (1) routine coronary arteriography performed 18 to 48 hours after the admnistration of rt-PA, followed by prophylactic PTCA (or CABG) if arteriography demonstrated that the anatomy was suitable (this was termed 'invasive strategy') and (2) conventional care without coronary arteriography and PTCA during the six weeks after random assignment to treatment, unlessthere was evidence of recurrent spontaneous or exercise-induced ischemia (the 'conservative strategy'). One substudy included in this trial examined the effects of early as compared with deferred administration of a relatively cardioselective beta-andrenergic blocking agent in eligible patients. Pateients were treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Data are from analysis files as of January 1991. The patient population was 3,339.