title: Early remodelling of coronary stenoses after thrombolytic treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the frequency of early remodelling of coronary stenosis morphology after thrombolytic treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Coronary angiograms were analysed by a computerised edge detection analysis system. Coronary stenosis severity was measured and morphology classified as smooth or complex.
  
  
  METHODS
  Coronary arteriograms were obtained approximately 90 min and 24 h after thrombolytic treatment from 40 patients with acute myocardial infarction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stenosis morphology was complex in 22 patients (65%) and smooth in 11 (32%) 90 min after thrombolysis. The morphology of 11 (50%) complex coronary stenoses and three (27%) smooth stenoses had changed at 24 h (P < 0.05). The transition from complex to smooth was associated with a reduction in stenosis severity from 65 (4)% to 51 (5)% (P < 0.05). The stenosis severity was 63 (4)% and 60 (5)% in those with persistently complex morphology, and 56 (7)% and 50 (5)% in those with persistently smooth morphology at 90 min and 24 h respectively (NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transition of morphology from complex to smooth within 24 h is common. This transition is associated with a reduction in stenosis severity of a degree greater than that found in persistently smooth stenoses over the same interval. 50% of stenoses are smooth at 24 h.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tousoulis
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andreotti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hackett
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maseri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D013300:Streptokinase