Inflammation has been associated with myocardial infarction, even before the recognition that acute coronary thrombi cause coronary occlusion and a time-dependent loss of myocardial muscle. In response to injury, the…
The Role of Thrombosis in Ischemic Heart Disease Although acute coronary syndromes are divided for the purpose of treatment assignment into unstable angina, non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and ST-segment…
Coronary atherosclerotic disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world. Atherosclerosis is a multifocal process generally confined to the intima of the coronary arteries. Despite…
The current focus of the management of the acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is on antithrombotic and antiplatelet agents and the selection and timing of revascularization procedures. With a few notable…
Ischemic preconditioning refers to the ability of short periods of ischemia to make the myocardium more resistant to a subsequent ischemic insult. This term was introduced for the first time…
Platelets play a pivotal role in mediating thrombotic complications of atherosclerotic vascular disease. Oral antiplatelet agents are the cornerstone of pharmacologic therapy for preventing ischemic events of atherothrombotic disease. Aspirin…
The management of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), whether in the initial or later stages of disease, is rooted firmly in three fundamental pathobiological constructs—atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular repair….
Unstable angina (UA) is classically defined as ischemic discomfort that occurs at rest (or with minimal exertion), occurs with a crescendo pattern, or is severe and of new onset. If…
Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease presenting with diverse clinical phenotypes. For example, manifestations range from an elderly patient with few or no symptoms and three-vessel disease, to an asymptomatic individual…
Given the high prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD), the evaluation of patients with suspected or documented ischemic heart disease is one of the most common indications for echocardiography. History…
