title: Acute coronary syndromes: considerations for improved acceptance and implementation of management guidelines.
abstract: The management of acute coronary syndrome in Europe is covered by various European Society of Cardiology guidelines, which although valuable, are complex and may not always provide clear guidance in everyday clinical practice. Consequently, implementation of the guideline recommendations is frequently suboptimal. To complicate matters further, a wealth of new data from large trials examining novel anti-thrombotic agents will become or are already available, necessitating guideline updates. This article summarizes the gaps between current guideline-recommended treatment of acute coronary syndrome and daily practice as dictated by the evidence base, including recent trials. Reasons for the suboptimal implementation of the current European Society of Cardiology guidelines and possible solutions to making these more practice oriented are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. frans.vandewerf@uzleuven.be
authors.forename: Frans
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van de Werf
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ardissino
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Collet
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gershlick
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kolh
authors.forename: Steen Dalby
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: Sigmund
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silber
authors.forename: Freek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Verheugt
authors.forename: Wojtek
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wojakowski
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002309:Cardiology / Q000592:standards; D005060:Europe; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors