Significance of smoking in patients receiving thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Experience gleaned from the International Tissue Plasminogen Activator/Streptokinase Mortality Trial.

Abstract

This retrospective analysis indicates that smokers receiving thrombolytic therapy after acute myocardial infarction have significantly better hospital and 6-month outcome than nonsmokers or ex-smokers. However, smokers sustained their infarction at a significantly earlier age than nonsmokers, and strenuous efforts should continue to be made to decrease the incidence of new and continued smoking.