Combined therapeutic strategy for multiple coronary thromboemboli

A female with mitral valvular disease presented an acute myocardial infarct ion. She suddenly complained of recurrent chest pain with symptoms of pulmo nary edema. The angiogram evidenced multiple coronary thromboemboli. A comb ined strategy using intracoronary thrombolysis, a platelet glycoprotein IIb /IIIa antagonist (abciximab) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angiopl asty to help disrupt the thrombus was performed, Clinical and angiographic signs of coronary reperfusion were rapidly achieved. No bleeding complicati ons appeared. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.