ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the industrialized world and is expected to become the single most common cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world by 2020 (1). Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) refers to a spectrum of clinical presentations in patients with acute myocardial ischemia, most often caused by a complication of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) (2). In 2005, there were over 1.5 million hospital admissions for either a primary or secondary diagnosis of ACS in the United States (3). Patients with ACS are at high risk for both short-and long-term morbidity and mortality (4,5). Therefore, prompt diagnosis and appropriate management are essential. This chapter critically examines the evidence for the efficacy and safety of anticoagulant therapy in the immediate management of patients with ACS.
