title: Future treatment strategies in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
abstract: Over the past five decades, management of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has evolved substantially. Current treatment encompasses a systematic chain of network activation, antithrombotic drugs, and rapid instigation of mechanical reperfusion, although pharmacoinvasive strategies remain relevant. Secondary prevention with drugs and lifestyle modifications completes the contemporary management package. Despite a tangible improvement in outcomes, STEMI remains a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality, justifying the quest to find new therapeutic avenues. Ways to reduce delays in doing coronary angioplasty after STEMI onset include early recognition of symptoms by patients and prehospital diagnosis by paramedics so that the emergency room can be bypassed in favour of direct admission to the catheterisation laboratory. Mechanical reperfusion can be optimised by improvements to stent design, whereas visualisation of infarct size has been improved by developments in cardiac MRI. Novel treatments to modulate the inflammatory component of atherosclerosis and the vulnerable plaque include use of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds and anti-proliferative drugs. Translational efforts to improve patients' outcomes after STEMI in relation to cardioprotection, cardiac remodelling, and regeneration are also being realised.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland. stephan.windecker@insel.ch
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Windecker
authors: Jeroen J
authors: JJ
authors: Bax
authors: Aung
authors: A
authors: Myat
authors: Gregg W
authors: GW
authors: Stone
authors: Michael S
authors: MS
authors: Marber
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000639:trends; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000639:trends; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion / Q000639:trends; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000639:trends; D015607:Stents / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents