Therapeutic dissolution of an intracoronary thrombus by prolonged intravenous platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonism

This case report describes the therapeutic dissolution of an intracoronary thrombus in a patient with ectatic coronary arteries post-myocardial infarc tion by prolonged intravenous glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa antagonist adminis tration. The report emphasizes the potential thrombotic complications in pa tients with ectatic coronary arteries and the beneficial use of GP IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists as direct thrombolytic agents even in partially organ ized thrombus formation. In addition to the well-documented effects of GP I Ib/IIIa blockade in the scenario of percutaneous interventions, unstable an gina, and non-Q wave infarction, the use of this new class of drugs in acut e myocardial infarction seems to be promising and might also be considered in the setting of persistent thrombotic material within the coronary vascul ature.