RT Journal
A1 Hochman JS, Buller CE
T1 Percutaneous coronary intervention for persistent occlusion of the infarct-related artery: An expanded view of the evidence—reply
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2011
FD November 28
VO 171
IS 21
SP 1962
OP 1963
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.552
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.552
AB 
We agree with Appleton et al that “Patients who present late with an acute MI are a heterogeneous population”; the OAT results do not apply to all. It is precisely this heterogeneity that makes conclusions from the meta-analysis by Abbate et al1 invalid. That analysis did not restrict itself to patients with total occlusions late after MI, but rather included patients with closed and patent IRAs.2 The meta-analysis that restricted itself to post-MI patients with total IRA occlusion showed no benefit from routine PCI.3 It is this subset to which the updated guideline recommendation applies.