Reperfusion hemorrhage following PTCA and thrombolysis for left main coronary artery occlusion.

Myocardial reperfusion hemorrhage has been reported in humans but rarely after percutaneous transluminal coronary artery angioplasty (PTCA) of occluded vessels and not after the reopening of left main occlusions. Three patients with infarct and cardiogenic shock and reperfusion hemorrhages after PTCA, with or without streptokinase infusion and reopening of acutely thrombosed left main coronary arteries are reported here. The effect of the reperfusion 24,9 and 7 h after symptom onset and 24,25 and 3 h before death is examined.