Prevención y tratamiento del síndrome coronario agudo

Acute coronary syndrome is the ultimate clinical manifestation of the chronic inflammation of the vascular wall that results from various processes which damage the endothelium. Rupture of atherosclerotic plaque causes thrombosis and leads to acute coronary syndromes. Both local and systemic inflammatory responses have important influences on plaque vulnerability and rupture. In the present article, we review disease pathophysiology, the techniques available for detecting vulnerable plaque, the role of statins in acute coronary syndromes (based on published clinical trials), and the therapeutic implications of preventing the thrombotic complications of atherosclerosis.