NEUTROPHIL ADHESION AND ACTIVATION DURING SYSTEMIC THROMBOLYSIS IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

In a pilot study, alterations of polymorphonuclear neutrophil function during systemic thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction have been investigated in humans. The following parameters of neutrophil functi on were measured before and at 15 and 45 minutes after initiation of s ystemic thrombolysis with a recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activa tor in 20 patients with acute myocardial infarction: (1) neutrophil ad hesion and (2) neutrophil activation. During systemic thrombolysis a s ignificant decrease was observed in neutrophil adhesion (5.5+/-6.4 to 3.2+/-3.3; p<0.05), in phagocyting neutrophil activation (39+/-18 to 2 5+/-14%; p < 0.05), and in resting neutrophil activation (9+/-7 to 3+/ -4%; p<0.05). Successful reperfusion coincided with a significantly hi gher reduction of phagocyting neutrophil activation (40+/-14 to 20+/-1 2% vs. 39+/-24 to 26+/-19% in unsuccessful reperfusion; p <0.05), and of neutrophil adhesion (6.2+/-5.7 to 2.7+/-3.0 vs. 4.1+/-3.8 to 3.5+/- 4.0 in unsuccessful reperfusion; p<0.05) during thrombolysis. Systemic thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction is accompanied by a reduc tion in neutrophil adhesion and activation dependent on thrombolytic s uccess. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.