Dissolution of angiographically detected intracoronary thrombus for unstable angina pectoris after aspirin therapy

Abstract

Atherosclerotic plaque disruption with nonocclusive coronary artery thrombosis plays a major role in the pathogenesis of unstable angina pectoris.1 Progression to cardiac death or nonfatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI) occurs in more than 10% of these patients within 3 months2 and is not prevented by conventional medical treatment with nitrate, [beta]-blocking or calcium antagonist drugs. Two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have shown a 50% reduction in mortality and nonfatal AMI rates with aspirin therapy,2,3 presumably from inhibition of platelet-dependent thrombus formation. This report provides arteriographic evidence of thrombus dissolution in patients with unstable angina whose condition improved on aspirin therapy.