Polymyositis associated with simvastatin

1600 Vol 349 • May 31, 1997 Pixel-by-pixel analysis across all patients of grey-matter rCBF values from the first and second PET study, respectively, with separation of the compartments according to initial flow (less or greater than 50% relative uptake) and final MRI (infarcted or non-infarcted) further supported the notion that much of the tissue initially below the conventional viability threshold can survive, if sufficient reperfusion is achieved, whereas most of the tissue remaining hypoperfused after alteplase turns into necrosis. Some tissues, however, may become necrotic despite good initial flow and reperfusion. These observations illustrate the preservation of critically hypoperfused brain tissue by reperfusion consequent to efficacious thrombolytic therapy. They are in agreement with findings from animal experiments indicating that large infarcts can be avoided, when reperfusion is initiated as long as there is viable tissue.