- patients fulfilling the criteria of AMI and presenting at the hospital between 12 and 48 hours after onset of symptoms. The criteria of AMI are fulfilled when at least one episode of typical chest pain lasting ≥ 20 minutes is combined with either unequivocal ECG changes (≥ 0.1 mV of ST-segment elevation in ≥ 2 limb leads or ≥ 0.2 mV in ≥ 2 contiguous precordial leads or new pathological Q-waves) or CK plus concomitant CK-MB increase above twice the upper normal threshold. All patients have to be informed of the nature of the study and should give their informed consent for participation in the study.