Concurrent Use of Reteplase and Lepirudin in the Treatment of Acute Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction

A 61-year-old male with a history of severe heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II after aorto-femoral bypass surgery presented to the emergency department within 8 hours of development of substernal chest pain radiating to the left arm. Electrocardiogram (ECG) on arrival and at 3 hours showed no acute changes; cardiac enzymes revealed minimal MB elevation. Echocardiogram showed normal left ventricular systolic function with mild mitral and tricuspid regurgitation and trace aortic insufficiency. Five hours after arrival, the patient reported a recurrence of severe chest pain. ECG showed marked ST elevations consistent with acute myocardial infarction. Reteplase was administered with concomitant lepirudin. Follow-up ECG showed improvement in ST-segment elevation and eventual resolution to pre-event tracing; cardiac enzymes showed slight elevations. Catheterization revealed 90% midstenosis of the left anterior descending artery, which was successfully treated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and stent placement. Repeat PTCA was performed 10 days postdischarge due to intraluminal stent occlusion. The patient was doing well at 6 months follow-up.