Effect of thrombolysis on plaque morphology in patients with acute myocardial infarction

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of thrombolysis on plaque morphology in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Clinical, angiographic and intravascular ultrasound data on 27 patients with thrombolysis (Group A) were analysed and compared with those on 23 patients without thrombolysis (Group B). Intracoronary thrombi of the infarct-related artery (IRA) were found significantly less frequently in Group A (48% vs 78%, p=0.029). The lumen cross-sectional areas (CSA) of the target lesion were significantly greater in Group A than in Group B. After thrombolysis, the lumen CSA of IRA showed a time-dependent increase, while the plaque burden showed a time-dependent decrease of the target lesion. In conclusion, our results indicate a short-, and a mid-term beneficial effect of thrombolysis which is related to a time-dependent progressive recovery of the IRA.