We studied the effects of myocardial ischemic preconditioning and preexistent collateral circulation on the preservation of left ventricular function in 30 patients who had successful intracoronary thrombolysis within 6 hours after the onset of a first acute anterior myocardial infarction. The existence of ischemic preconditioning was defined as the episode of recurrent ischemic chest pain within 4 hours before the onset of acute myocardial infarction. In 16 patients with ischemic preconditioning (group A), the left ventricular ejection fraction during the convalescence of myocardial infarction was 57% +/- 11% (mean +/- SD); regional wall motion in the infarct area was 13% +/- 9%. In 14 patients without ischemic preconditioning (group B), the left ventricular ejection fraction and regional wall motion in the infarct area were 46% +/- 9% and 5% +/- 9% (both p < 0.05 vs group A). Moreover, among group A patients, seven patients having a well-developed collateral circulation during the acute stage of myocardial infarction showed a more prominent improvement in regional wall motion in the infarct area compared with nine patients having poor or no collateral circulation (18% +/- 8% vs 9% +/- 7%, p < 0.05). These data indicate that ischemic preconditioning is effective for the preservation of left ventricular function in patients with successful intracoronary thrombolysis and that preexistent coronary collateral circulation potentiates this favorable effect of ischemic preconditioning.