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63 April 2015
Original Article
Abstract
Background: ST elevated myocardial infarction is a serious and life-threatening condition. In patients suitable
for thrombolytic treatment, time is critical and reperfusion should be initiated as soon as possible. Reteplase is
commonly used in the management of ST elevated myocardial infarction.
Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of intravenous Retelex (Reteplase) injection in management of patients
with ST elevated myocardial infarction in clinical practice.
Material and methods: An open label, non-comparative, multicentric, post-marketing observational study was
conducted in >18 years of patients with ST elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) receiving Retelex. All patients
received 20 units Retelex within 6 hours after the onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) symptoms. The dose
was given as two 10 unit Intravenous injections each over two minutes 30 minutes apart. Evaluation criteria: Patients
were followed on day 1, 3, 5/7 and 30. The primary evaluation criteria was total number of patients showing
clinically successful thrombolysis based on 50% resolution of ST-elevation in the maximum affected (adjacent)
leads within 90-120 minutes of initiation of Reteplase and resolution of chest pain. Secondary evaluation criteria
included percentage of patient requiring rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), percentage of patient
underwent angioplasty or CABG after thrombolysis. Door to needle time was also recorded in patients receiving
the study drug. Global assessment of efficacy and safety was done by patient as well as investigator. All adverse
events were recorded for safety assessment. Statistical analysis: Mean and percentage were calculated for primary
efficacy parameters i.e. 50% resolution of ST elevation and resolution of chest pain. Chi square test was used for
comparing the difference between diabetes versus non-diabetes patients for primary efficacy variables as well
as for comparing the number of patients requiring rescue PCI, angioplasty and CABG between these two groups.
Results: A total of 228 patients were enrolled out of which 140 were having diabetes mellitus. Out of all patients,
68.9% had ST elevated anterior wall myocardial infarction. Resolution of 50% of ST elevation and resolution of
chest pain was reported in 90.50% and 95.4% patients respectively. No significant difference was seen in primary
efficacy variables between diabetes versus non-diabetes patients (p=0.1538 for 50% ST elevation resolution,
p=0.4031 resolution of chest pain). Rescue PCI was required by 7.6% patients while angioplasty and CABG was
done in 22% and 16.8% patients, respectively. No significant difference was seen in diabetes versus non-diabetes
patients requiring rescue PCI (p=0.1059), angioplasty (p=0.2172) and CABG (p=0.9128). The incidence of adverse
event in this study was 5.3%.
Conclusion: Reteplase IV Injection-recombinant plasminogen activator is effective and well tolerated in the
management of ST elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Indian patients including diabetes patients.
Editorial Viewpoint
Early thrombolysis should be made available to all the patients across India to be administered while
transporting patients in ambulance.
This is an open label, non-comparative post-marketing surveillance.
There is a definite improvement in therapeutic armamentarium for thrombolysis by addition of Reteplase.
1
Consultant Cardiologist, Department of cardiology, Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Center (BMHRC), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh; 2Chief Medical Advisor, 3Chief Manager,
Medical Services Division, Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Received: 03.07.2014; Revised: 08.10.2014; Accepted: 04.11.2014
32 Journal of The Association of Physicians of India Vol. 63 April 2015
N on-communicable diseases
are rapidly increasing and
mortality due to non-communicable
p l a s m i n o g e n a c t i va t o r ( t - PA) ,
a serine protease, converting
plasminogen to plasmin and
vascular location in the last 24
hours prior to screening for study
and those with confirmed arterial
diseases is increasing at a rapid thereby precipitating thrombolysis. hypertension (>200/110 mm Hg)
pace. Cardiovascular disease, one It is a third-generation recombinant at entry were also not included in
of common non-communicable form of fibrin specific t-PA. 8 The this study. Each patient received
diseases is responsible for high half-life of reteplase is longer than a total dose of 20 units Retelex
morbidity and mortality all over that of alteplase; hence it can be within 6 hours after the onset of
the world. 1 There are about 30 used as bolus injection. 9 The ease acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
million patients with CHD in of administration of reteplase symptoms. The dose was given as
India. Coronary heart disease is because of simple dosage regimen two 10 unit Intravenous injections
more prevalent in Indian urban helps for prehospital initiation each over two minutes, no more
populations. Epidemiological of thrombolytic treatment in than 30 minutes apart. Patients
studies have demonstrated the patients with ST-segment elevation were followed on day 1, 3, 5/7 and
prevalence of CHD in rural adult myocardial infarction (STEMI). 30.
is less (3-5%) compared to urban The advantage with this regime is Evaluation criteria: The primary
(7-10%) adults.2 According to reduction in the time to treatment evaluation criteria was total number
estimates a total of nearly 64 which is an important factor in of patients showing clinically
million cases of CVD are likely in improving long-term survival. 8 successful thrombolysis based on
the year 2015. 3 One of the serious 50% resolution of ST-elevation in the
complications of the CAD is ST- Objective maximum affected (adjacent) leads
elevation myocardial infarction within 90-120 minutes of initiation
The objective of the study was
(STEMI), which is a life-threatening of Reteplase and resolution of chest
to evaluate safety and efficacy of
c l i n i c a l e m e r g e n c y . 4 Pa t i e n t s pain. Secondary evaluation criteria
intravenous Retelex (Reteplase)
with acute coronary syndromes included percentage of patient
injection in management of patients
i n In di a h a ve a h i g h e r r a t e of requiring rescue PCI, percentage
w i t h S T e l e va t e d m y o c a r d i a l
STEMI compared to developed of patients who underwent
infarction in clinical practice
countries.5 ST elevation myocardial planned angioplasty or coronary
infarction (STEMI) can be treated Material and Methods artery bypass graft (CABG) after
by primary percutaneous coronary thrombolysis. In addition, door
intervention (PPCI) and fibrinolysis. An open label, non-comparative, to needle time (ECG diagnosis of
Percutaneous coronary intervention multicentric, post-marketing STEMI and first dose of Retelex)
if done in timely manner is superior observational study was conducted and concomitant medication were
to fibrinolysis. 6 However, this may in adult patients (>18 years of also recorded for patients receiving
not be possible in many settings age) with ST elevated myocardial Reteplase. Repeat ECG was taken
because of challenges like time lag infarction (STEMI) who received within 90 to 120 min after initiation
in transferring the patient, lack of Retelex. The decision to administer of Retelex (Reteplase). Global
catheterization facility and limited Retelex (Reteplase) along with other assessment of efficacy and safety
number of skilled practitioners. In adjuvant drugs was taken solely by was done by patient as well as
patients suitable for thrombolytic the treating physicians as a part i n ve s t i g a t o r . T h e e f f i c a c y wa s
treatment, time is critical and of their clinical management. The rated on 4 point (excellent, good,
reperfusion should be initiated patients having contraindication moderate, poor ) while safety was
as soon as possible.4 Despite to the use of thrombolytic, patients rated on 3 points (good, moderate,
availability of good treatment, with internal active bleeding or poor). Safety was assessed through
mortality from acute myocardial known history of hemorrhagic recording all adverse events.
infarction (AMI) is showing no diathesis or history of previous
Statistical analysis: Mean and
further reduction due to the pre- cardiovascular accident (CVA),
percentage were calculated for
hospital phase and in-hospital transient ischemic attack (TIA)
primary efficacy parameters i.e.
delays. 5 Hence for management of of any kind, intracranial tumor,
50% resolution of ST elevation and
STEMI, immediate administration arteriovenous malformation,
resolution of chest pain. Chi square
of a fibrinolytic followed by cerebral aneurysm, major surgery,
test was used for comparing the
angiogram and percutaneous parenchymal biopsy, ocular surgery
difference between diabetes versus
intervention (PCI) between 3-24 and/or severe traumatism within 6
non-diabetes patients for primary
hours after fibrinolytic therapy may weeks prior to screening for study
efficacy variables as well as for
be an attractive option. 7 Reteplase were excluded from the study.
comparing the number of patients
Journal of The Association of Physicians of India Vol. 63 April 2015 33
(n=228) 90.00%
% of patients
Female (%) 52 (22.8%) 60.00%
50% resolution of ST elevation
50.00% Resolution of chest pain
Table 2 : Diagnosis of enrolled patients 40.00%
Results Patient
30%
Investigator
A total of 228 patients were
enrolled in this study out of 20%
60.0%
Patient chest pain was reported in 93.65%
50.0%
Investigator patients receiving tenecteplase. 4
40.0%
In this study, all the patients had
30.0%
received in-hospital tenecteplase
20.0%
6.00%
as per weight-adjusted dosing. 4
10.0% 4.3%
1.0% T h e a d va n t a g e o f R e t e p l a s e i s
0.0% its simple dosing schedule i.e.
Good Moderate Poor
two 10 unit intravenous bolus
Fig. 4 : Overall global assessment of tolerability injections each over two minutes,
no more than 30 minutes apart.
efficacy, excellent to good efficacy patients (p=0.5641 for evaluation The bolus injection with reteplase
was reported by 95.6% and 93.8% by investigator; p=0.8832 for is possible because of its long
of patients as evaluated by patients evaluation by patients). half-life compared to alteplase.
(n=225) and investigators (n=224), The half-life of reteplase is four
respectively (Figure 2). Discussion
times longer than alteplase. Studies
The most commonly used Thrombosis is part of the normal in animal have suggested that
concomitant medications in the physiologic haemostatic response double bolus regimen is preferable
study included aspirin, clopidogrel, to limit bleeding in case of vascular to doubling the single bolus dose
LMWH/Heparin and statin (Figure injury. Usually thrombus remains of reteplase. The suggested time
3). Sorbitrate was used by 9.1% at the site of injury and does interval of 30 minutes between
patients. not limit the blood flow. Under two injections is derived from the
Effect on vital parameters: As some circumstances, the thrombus pharmacokinetic modelling. 9 No
compared to baseline, significant c a n o c c l u d e t h e b l o o d ve s s e l . statistically different difference
reduction was seen in the vital Acute myocardial infarction is one wa s s e e n c l i n i c a l l y s u c c e s s f u l
parameters i.e. blood pressure, such acute thrombotic occlusive thrombolysis with tenecteplase in
pulse rate and in respiratory rate disorder. ST elevated myocardial diabetics versus non-diabetics. 4
(Table 3). The mean door to needle infarction needs immediate Similarly, we also did not observe
time was 24.93 (25.57) minutes in treatment. Thrombolytic treatment s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b e t we e n
all cases. should be started as soon as possible diabetes and non-diabetes
Safety assessment: A total of 12 to delay the complications. In this patients with reteplase. It is also
patients (5.3%) patients reported study, the door to needle time was documented in a comparative data
adverse event. Arrhythmia, less than half an hour i.e. 24.93 that reteplase achieves higher and
epistaxis, hematuria, ventricular minutes. faster reperfusion after two bolus
fibrillation and VT were the injections of 10 units than 100 mg
A fibrin-specific agent has class
adverse events reported in the infusion of alteplase. 12
IA recommendation from the
study. No significant difference European Society of Cardiology Reteplase was well tolerated
was seen in adverse event rate guidelines for the management of by patient in this study. On
b e t we e n d i a b e t e s ve r s u s n o n - STEMI.10 Reteplase, a plasminogen global assessment of tolerability,
diabetes patients (p>0.05). activator has been well studied in none of the patient reported
Global assessment of the management of ST elevated poor tolerability as evaluated by
tolerability: As per the global myocardial infarction both globally investigators. Thus, proven efficacy
assessment of tolerability, good to as well as in India. Internationally, and safety finding from this study
moderate tolerability was reported in large randomized clinical trials in demonstrates utility of reteplase in
by 99% patients as evaluated by patients with STEMI, reteplase was Indian patients with STEMI.
patients (n=208) whereas 100% found to be superior to alteplase Reteplase is a better fibrinolysis
patients reported good to moderate for coronary artery patency at agent because of its multiple
tolerability as evaluated by 60 and 90 minutes. 8 Similarly in advantages including lesser amount
investigators (n=215), respectively another study with reteplase, of drug required to maintain
(Figure 4). No significant difference 7 3 . 7 5 % p a t i e n t s a c h i e ve d 5 0 % t h e r a p e u t i c l e ve l , 1 3 p r o l o n g e d
was seen in the tolerability as lowering of ST segment elevation at half life (13-16 min) 14 and easy
reported by patients or doctors 6 hours 11 while in our study, 90.5% administration as no infusion
in diabetes versus non-diabetes patients achieved 50% reduction required. The recommended
Journal of The Association of Physicians of India Vol. 63 April 2015 35