Almanac 2013: Acute coronary syndromes the national society journals present selected research that has driven recent advances in clinical cardiology

Abstract

Almanah 2013Correspondence to Dr Pascal Meier, Yale-UCL Cardiovascular Research, Programme, The Heart Hospital, University College London Hospitals UCLH, UCLH16-18 Westmoreland Street, London W1G 8PH, UK; pascalmeier74@gmail.com 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. Abstract