Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade 3 coronary flow is associated with improved survival after thrombolysis

In the Global Utilization of t-PA and Streptokinase for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO-I) trial, the 30-day mortality rate after thrombolysis for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction varied with the degree of vessel patency achieved. The mortality was lowest (4.3 percent) in patients with TIMI grade 3 (normal) flow in the infarct-related artery at 90 minutes. Partial restoration of flow (TIMI grade 2) did not improve outcomes compared with no or faint flow (TIMI grade 0 or 1).