What is the frequency and functional and clinical significance of complex lesions in non-infarct-related arteries after fibrinolysis for acute ST-elevation XXXX ?

@entity1 @entity712 @entity301 @entity63 @entity1066 @entity583 @entity715
BACKGROUND: Observational data suggest that the diffuse inflammatory nature of @entity301 may be expressed by the presence of unstable coronary lesions in multiple vessels in @entity1 with @entity583 . The aim of our study was to investigate the existence of complex lesions in nonculprit vessels in @entity1 with ST-elevation @entity583 and to assess their clinical and functional significance. METHODS: We evaluated 974 non-infarct-related arteries (nIRAs) in 439 @entity1 presenting within 6 hours of acute ST-elevation @entity583 . Coronary angiograms and electrocardiograms (ECGs) were obtained 60 minutes after fibrinolysis and systematically analyzed in core angiographic and ECG laboratories. Complex lesions in nIRA were identified according to prior criteria, that is, stenosis > 50% with one of the following: overhanging edges, markedly irregular borders, @entity1066 , or @entity715 . RESULTS: Complex lesions were identified in 85 (8.7%) of 974 nIRAs. Seventy-three (16.7%) of 439 @entity1 had at least 1 complex lesion in a nIRA, with 10 of the 73 @entity1 having > 1 nIRA affected. There were no differences in baseline total ST deviation on the qualifying ECG between @entity1 with or without nIRA complex lesions. TIMI 3 flow in nIRAs occurred less frequently in vessels with complex lesions (50.8% vs 81.5%, P < .001), a difference maintained when nIRAs with stenosis between 50% and 99% were analyzed (P < .006). @entity1 with nIRA complex lesions had a higher inhospital incidence of @entity712 (16.4% vs 6.3%, P = .007) and a trend toward more recurrent @entity63 (13.7% vs 7.4%, P = .102). CONCLUSION: These findings provide new evidence supportive of the concept that active coronary lesions occur simultaneously in > 1 vessel, while also attesting to their functional and clinical significance.
