Role of a streamer-like coronary thrombus in the genesis of unstable angina

Journal of Interventional Cardiology
Yasumi UchidaSeiichiro Shirai

Abstract

It is generally believed that the coronary occlusion occurs at the site of plaque disruption in acute coronary syndromes. An exceptional mechanism of coronary occlusion, namely a streamer-like thrombus (SLT) originating in a nonstenotic lesion extended distally to obstruct a just distal nondisrupted stenotic segment, was found by angioscopy in patients with unstable angina (UA). This study was carried out to examine the incidence of this phenomenon and its relationship to the subtypes of UA. The culprit coronary artery was investigated by angioscopy in successive 48 patients (mean +/- SE age, 61.0 +/- 2.3 years; 10 females and 38 males) with UA. SLT originating in a nonstenotic lesion extended distally, and obstructed the just distal most stenotic segment (DMSS) by its tail in 11 patients (eight with class III and three with class II according to Braunwald's classification). Recurrent anginal attacks were observed in all. The nonstenotic lesion in which the SLT originated was a disrupted yellow plaque in most cases. The SLT was frequently red and yellow in a mosaic pattern, indicating a mixture of fresh thrombus and plaque debris. The plaques that constructed the DMSS were not disrupted. Angiographically, the SLT was not detect...Continue Reading

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