ABSTRACT
Acute coronary syndromes are defined as unstable angina or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. The goals of antithrombotic therapy in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes are threefold: (1) to prevent progression of intracoronary thrombus (Fig. 1); (2) to promote stabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque; and (3) to reduce the risk of subsequent ischemic events (1,2). An overview (3) of antiplatelet therapy in patients with arterial disease clearly established the benefit of aspirin; however, rates of (re)infarction or death remain elevated in the shortterm even with aspirin therapy. One such strategy to prevent recurrent ischemic events has been the concomitant administration of antithrombotic therapy.
