<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Unstable coronary artery plaque is the most common underlying cause of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and can manifest as unstable angina, non-ST segment elevation infarction (NSTE-ACS), and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but can also manifest as sudden cardiac arrest due to ischaemia induced tachyarrhythmias. ACS mortality has decreased significantly over the last few years, especially from the more extreme manifestations of ACS, STEMI, and cardiac arrest. This trend is likely to continue based on recent therapeutic progress which includes novel antiplatelet agents such as prasugrel, ticagrelor and cangrelor.</p></abstract>

Unstable coronary artery plaque is the most common underlying cause of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and can manifest as unstable angina, non-ST segment elevation infarction (NSTE-ACS), and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but can also manifest as sudden cardiac arrest due to ischaemia induced tachyarrhythmias. ACS mortality has decreased significantly over the last few years, especially from the more extreme manifestations of ACS, STEMI, and cardiac arrest. This trend is likely to continue based on recent therapeutic progress which includes novel antiplatelet agents such as prasugrel, ticagrelor and cangrelor.

Almanac 2013: acute coronary syndromes

Division of Cardiology, Yale Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Yale–UCL Cardiovascular Research Programme, The Heart Hospital, University College London Hospitals UCLH, London, UK

Division of Cardiology, Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol, UK

Seminars in Cardiovascular Medicine

{"article-title":"Almanac 2013: acute coronary syndromes"}

Unstable coronary artery plaque is the most common underlying cause of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and can manifest as unstable angina, non-ST segment...

Almanac 2013: acute coronary syndromes

Published Online: Jan 29, 2014

Page range: 30 - 38

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/semcard-2013-0005

This content is open access.