INFLUENCE OF HEPARIN-THERAPY ON PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY OUTCOME IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERIAL THROMBUS

The clinical and angiographic outcome of 18 patients with coronary thrombus undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty without antecedent heparin therapy was compared to that of a group of 35 patients receiving preprocedural heparin therapy. The former group had a significant reduction in angiographic success (61 vs 94%, p < 0.05) and a significant increase in immediate postprocedural thrombotic arterial occlusion (33 vs 6%, p < 0.05). This difference existed despite equivalent frequencies of antiplatelet therapy. Prolonged intravenous heparin therapy before angioplasty in the setting of coronary thrombus improves the overall success rate and lessens the likelihood of periprocedural coronary arterial thrombosis. © 1990.