[The value of late thrombolytic perfusion in acute myocardial infarct].

Contradicting previous views that reperfusion therapy in acute myocardial infarction has to be restricted to the first 4 to 6 h, the paradigm of thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction has to be expanded to 12 h, since the results of the LATE study have been published. While early thrombolysis (up to 90 min) aims towards myocardial salvage, the benefit of late reperfusion seems to depend on an improved myocardial remodeling and on rhythmic stabilization (open artery hypothesis). Today the value of late reperfusion therapy can be regarded as proven in a clinical setting, the mechanisms of late reperfusion therapy, however, still remain to be settled.