ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION In the 1980s, the role of the thrombus in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) was elucidated. It was realized in the 1990s that the platelet was of particular importance in arterial thrombosis [1]. Now, it has become clear that arterial inflammation is a major player in initiating plaque rupture and also predisposes to recurrent ischemic events in both the short and long term [2]. Indeed, the platelet itself has emerged as an inflammatory cell. These basic science insights are of direct relevance to clinicians caring for patients with acute coronary syndromes.
