ABSTRACT
In the last 25 years, our understanding of the causes of unstable atherosclerotic myocardial syndromes has evolved, leading to major improvements in prevention and treatment. The paramount roles of plaque rupture/erosion with subsequent platelet and fi brin deposition represent the immediate cause of occlusive and non-occlusive coronary thrombi in unstable syndromes. Understanding these processes has resulted in various therapeutic options that target the vessel wall, the various components of arterial thrombus, and/or the arterial lumen. This chapter will consider the various defi nitions and clinical manifestations of stable and unstable coronary atherosclerotic syndromes and correlate them to their pathophysiology.
