Systemic embolization following thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction

We describe a patient with acute inferior myocardial infarction who developed a "saddle" aortic embolus during streptokinase infusion. Three months previously, this patient had sustained an anterior infarction, and an apical aneurysm was found. This patient's embolus had most probably originated from a left ventricular mural thrombus that had been dislodged by streptokinase. As fibrinolytic treatment is gaining wide acceptance, physicians should be aware of this rare, but possible, complication.