title: Histopathological features of aspirated thrombi after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plaque disruption with superimposed thrombus is the predominant mechanism responsible for the onset of acute coronary syndromes. Studies have shown that plaque disruption and thrombotic occlusion are frequently separated in time. We established the histopathological characteristics of material aspirated during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a large consecutive ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thrombus aspiration during primary PCI was performed in 1,362 STEMI patients. Thrombus age was classified as fresh (<1 day), lytic (1-5 days), or organized (>5 day). Further, the presence of plaque was documented. The histopathological findings were related to the clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics. Material could be aspirated in 1,009 patients (74%). Components of plaque were found in 395 of these patients (39%). Fresh thrombus was found in 577 of 959 patients (60%) compared to 382 patients (40%) with lytic or organized thrombi. Distal embolization was present in 21% of patients with lytic thrombus compared to 12% and 15% of patients with fresh or organized thrombus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Material could be obtained in 74% of STEMI patients treated with thrombus aspiration during primary PCI. In 40% of patients thrombus age is older than 24 h, indicating that plaque disruption and thrombus formation occur significantly earlier than the onset of symptoms in many patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Miranda C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Allard C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: van der Wal
authors.forename: Karel T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Saskia Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Rittersma
authors.forename: Xiaofei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hanneke P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Ploegmakers
authors.forename: José P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.forename: René J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van der Schaaf
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baan
authors.forename: Marije M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Vis
authors.forename: Martin G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Meesterman
authors.forename: Jan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Piek
authors.forename: Jan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Tijssen
authors.forename: Robbert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: de Winter
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome