title: Pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: Despite improvements in interventional and pharmacological therapy for atherosclerotic disease, it is still the leading cause of death in the developed world. Hence, there is a need for further development of more effective therapeutic approaches. This requires better understanding of the molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology of the disease. Recent research in the last decade has changed our view of acute coronary syndrome (ACS): from a mere lipid deposition to an inflammatory disease; from ACS exclusively due to plaque rupture to the novel definitions of plaque erosion or calcified nodule; from the notion of a superimposed thrombus with necessary lethal consequences to the concept of healed plaques and thrombus contributing to plaque progression. In the hope of improving our understanding of ACS, all these recently discovered concepts are reviewed in this article.
authors: Atherothrombosis Research Unit, The Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1030, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
authors: Carlos G
authors: CG
authors: Santos-Gallego
authors: Belen
authors: B
authors: Picatoste
authors: Juan José
authors: JJ
authors: Badimón
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy