[Changes in the extent of residual stenosis in coronary arteries after thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarct].

The extent of residual coronary artery stenosis has been studied immediately after thrombolysis using streptokinase and after 3.-4. weeks follow-up in 28 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Thrombolysis was successful in 19 patients (67.9%). In these patients the extent of residual coronary artery stenosis (percentage narrowing of diameter) decreased from 73.4% to 66.1% (p less than 0.05). The residual stenosis did not change in 5 patients (26.3%), increased in 1 patient (5.2%), 3 patients suffered reocclusion of the vessel (15.8%). Marked improvement was found in 10 patients (52.6%). It means despite significant regression a coronary artery stenosis of more than 50% of diameter persisted in 47.4% of patients with successful thrombolysis 3.-4. weeks after the infarction. The factors which could be involved in regression of residual stenosis of vessel related to myocardial infarction are discussed.