title: Overview of contemporary reperfusion strategies in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
abstract: The rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque in an epicardial coronary artery with subsequent occlusive coronary thrombosis has been established as the decisive event in the pathogenesis of an acute coronary syndrome, which encompasses the clinical entities of unstable angina, non-ST- and ST-elevation myocardial infarction. This article focuses on contemporary treatment strategies for patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction and reviews the role of pharmacologic thrombolysis and mechanical reperfusion by percutaneous transluminal approaches. Statements of the latest guidelines for the treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction are included, as well as some recently distributed information not covered by the guideline publications. Finally, some future perspectives for the treatment of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction are outlined.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic Essen, Cardiology Clinic, West German Heart Center, Essen, Germany. michael.haude@uni-essen.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haude
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heusch
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erbel
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion / Q000379:methods*; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents