Abstract

The Anturane Reinfarction Trial is a randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical trial comparing sulfinpyrazone (200 mg four times a day) and placebo in the prevention of cardiac mortality among patients with a recent documented myocardial infarction. Results represent data accumulated on 1475 cligible patients entered 25 to 35 days after myocardial infarction and followed for an average of 8.4 months. The data reflect excellent randomization, compliance with therapy and tolerance of the drug. All 69 deaths were a cardiovascular nature (68 cardiac and one cerebrovascular). For cardiac deaths, the annual death rate was 9.5 per cent in the placebo group and 4.9 per cent in the sulfinpyrazone group, representing an observed reduction of 48.5 per cent (P = 0.018). The annual sudden-cardiac-death rate was 6.3 per cent for the placebo and 2.7 per cent for the sulfinpyrazone group, representing a 57.2 per cent reduction in sudden-cardiac-death rate (P = 0.015). Sulfinpyrazone appears to be effective in reducing cardiac deaths during the first year after myocardial infarction.