Angioplasty could become a primary AMI treatment. (acute myocardial infarction, William Beaumont Memorial Hospital's Cindy Grines and Duke University's Daniel Mark's research reports at American Heart Association's annual meeting)

Angioplasty could position itself as a primary, rather than secondary treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), following the results of two major studies that found the procedure equally if not more effective than thrombolytic therapy.

The results of the two studies, sponsored by a grant from angioplasty manufacturer Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Inc. (ACS), Santa Clara, Calif., were presented during the recent American Heart Association's 65th Annual Scientific Session. The amount of the grant was not disclosed. Although the studies were sponsored by a manufacturer of coronary balloon dilatation catheter systems, they were conducted by independent clinicians.

The Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction trial (PAMI) marks the first major study focusing on angioplasty as a primary treatment, according to cardiologist Cindy Grines, M.D., a director …