Background This study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of thrombolysis followed by early PCI via transradial artery approach in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods From September 2009 to March 2010, all consecutive STEMI patients within 12 hours from symptom onset or thrombolysis in the Department of Cardiology of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University were enrolled.All eligible STEMI patients were divided into two groups according to patients received thrombolysis or not: early PCI group (E-PCI group, patients received thrombolytic agents in non-PCI capable hospital and immediately transferred to receive early PCI) and primary PCI group (P-PCI group, patients received primary PCI).Coronary angiography (CAG)and PCI were performed immediately after admission via transradial artery approach for patients in both groups with standard technique.According to the results of angiography, PCI was performed unless the blood flow of IRA achieved TIMI flow grade 3 without significant stenosis.Thrombus score, TIMI flow grade (TFG) of IRA before and after PCI,corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC), TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) post PCI were analyzed.Bleeding complications was also observed and evaluated.All patients were followed up for 6 months to assess major adverse cardiac events (MACE).