One-year results from the global utilization of streptokinase and TPA for occluded coronary arteries (GUSTO-I) trial

Background In the randomized Global Utilization of t-PA and Streptokinase for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO-I) trial, 41 021 patients received one of four thrombolytic regimens. Patients treated with accelerated tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) had a lower 30-day mortality rate (6.3%) than those treated with the other regimens (7.3%, combined streptokinase groups). Methods and Results Each patient who was alive at 30 days was sent a return postcard to ascertain vital status at 1 year. If the postcard was not returned, the patient (or an alternate specified at randomization) was contacted by telephone. A locator service was used in the United States for patients who could not be located by these methods. Final follow-up was 96% worldwide. One-year mortality rates remained in favor of accelerated TPA (9.1%) over streptokinase with subcutaneous heparin (10.1%, P=.011) and streptokinase with intravenous heparin (10.1%, P=.009). Combination therapy had an intermediate 1-year mortality (9.9%); this outcome was statistically indistinguishable from that with streptokinase (P=.47) but was marginally different from that with accelerated TPA (P=.05). Conclusions The 1-year results demonstrated a saving of 10 lives per 1000 patients treated with accelerated TPA versus streptokinase and subcutaneous or intravenous heparin. Combination thrombolytic therapy had an intermediate benefit but offered no advantage over accelerated TPA treatment alone.