Evaluation of Thrombus Precursor Protein in Acute Coronary Syndromes

Abstract

Acute coronary syndromes is a tenn encompassing the continuum of acute myocardial ischemia ranging from angina through Q wave myocardial infarction (MI), thus, unstable angina (UA) is considered an acute coronary syndrome encompassing chronic ischemic heart disease and acute myocardial infarction. UA represents .an important cause of morbidity and hospitalization in western countries: incidenceis estimated at around 211000 subjects/y and about 10% of patients with UA develop an acute MI within 6 months. Despite major therapeutic advances in the last decade, patients with UA are still at high risk of adverse cardiac events. Acute MI occurs by• occlusive thrombosis after rupture of atherosclerotic lesion in the coronary arteries. This coronary thrombosis in stenosed vessels lead to total or partial occlusion of the vessels, resulting in ischemia, injury, and eventually necrosis of the myocardial tissue. The duration of the ischemia and the size of the area involved detennine the extent of necrosis and consequently the extent of loss in ventricular function. The early dissolution of the thrombotic occlusion by thrombolytic therapy can dramatically limit necrosis, thereby preserving ventricular function and substantially reducing morbidity and mortality from acute MI.