Unstable Angina and Other Acute Coronary Syndromes

Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) present clinically when their disease enters an unstable phase known as an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), in which the cap of a previously stable atheromatous coronary plaque ruptures or erodes, which in turn activates a thrombotic cascade that may lead to coronary artery occlusion, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiogenic shock, and patient death. There are nearly 2 million episodes of ACS in the United States annually; it is the most common reason for hospitalization with CAD and is the leading cause of death in the developed world. This review contains 2 figures, 16 tables, and 70 references. Key Words: coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock