Non–Q-wave myocardial infarction following thrombolytic therapy: a comparison of outcomes in patients randomized to invasive or conservative post-infarct assessment strategies in the Veterans Affairs Non–Q-Wave Infarction Strategies In-Hospital (VANQWISH)

OBJECTIVES We wished to determine the effect of post-infarct management strategy on event rates (death or recurrent nonfatal myocardial infarction [MI]) in patients who evolved non–Q-wave MI (NQMI) following thrombolytic therapy. BACKGROUND Patients who evolve NQMI following thrombolytic therapy are often considered to be at high risk and are frequently managed with routine early invasive testing despite a lack of data supporting improved outcome. METHODS The Veterans Affairs Non-Q-Wave Infarction Strategies In-Hospital (VANQWISH) study included 115 patients who evolved NQMI following thrombolytic therapy. We compared the event rates in patients randomized to routine early coronary angiography with those in patients randomized to a conservative strategy of noninvasive functional assessment, with angiography reserved for patients with spontaneous or induced ischemia. RESULTS During an average follow-up of 23 months, 19 of 58 patients (33%) randomized to the invasive management strategy died or suffered recurrent nonfatal MI, compared with 11 of 57 patients (19%) randomized to the conservative strategy (p = 0.152). Equivalent numbers of patients were subjected to revascularization (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft). There were more deaths in the invasive management group than in the conservative management group (11 vs. 2). Excess deaths could not be attributed to periprocedural mortality. CONCLUSIONS Overall event rates (death or recurrent nonfatal MI) are comparable with conservative and invasive strategies in patients who evolve NQMI following thrombolytic therapy. Mortality rate in patients managed conservatively is low (3.5%), and routine invasive management may be associated with an increased risk of death.