Danish multicenter randomized study on fibrinolytic therapy versus acute coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction: rationale and design of the danish trial in acute myocardial infarction-2 (DANAMI-2)

• Published in: The American heart journal 2003-08, Vol.146 (2), p.234-241
• Main Authors: Andersen, Henning Rud, Nielsen, Torsten Toftegaard, Vesterlund, Thomas, Grande, Peer, Abildgaard, Ulrik, Thayssen, Per, Pedersen, Flemming, Mortensen, Leif Spange
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angioplasty; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Aspirin - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Coronary heart disease; Drug Therapy, Combination; Electrocardiography; Fibrinolytic Agents - therapeutic use; Heart; Heart attacks; Heparin - therapeutic use; Humans; Medical sciences; Mortality; Myocardial Infarction - drug therapy; Myocardial Infarction - mortality; Myocardial Infarction - therapy; Patient Transfer; Research Design; Stroke; Thrombolytic Therapy
• ISSN: 0002-8703; 1097-6744
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-8703(03)00316-8

Randomized trials have indicated that primary coronary angioplasty performed in patients admitted directly to highly-experienced angioplasty centers offers certain advantages over intravenous fibrinolytic therapy. However, the large majority of patients with acute myocardial infarction are submitted to hospitals without a catheterization laboratory. This means that additional transportation will be necessary for many patients if a strategy of acute coronary angioplasty is to be introduced as routine treatment. The delay of treatment caused by transportation might negate (part of) the benefits of primary angioplasty compared to fibrinolytic therapy given immediately at the local hospital. The DANish trial in Acute Myocardial Infarction-2 (DANAMI-2) is the first large-scale study to clarify, in a whole community, which of the 2 treatment strategies is best. A total of 1900 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction are to be randomized: 800 patients will be admitted to invasive hospitals and 1100 patients will be admitted to referral hospitals. Half of the 1100 patients admitted to referral hospitals will immediately be transferred to an invasive center to be treated with primary angioplasty. If acute transfer from a local hospital to an angioplasty center is the superior strategy, primary angioplasty should be offered to all patients as routine treatment on a community basis.