Acute Coronary Syndromes

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is most commonly caused by a heart attack (myocardial infarction) where blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. This is usually caused by a blood clot from a ruptured coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque. Other causes include spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which most commonly occurs in women. ACS is usually treated in a cath lab with angioplasty and the placement of a stent to prop the vessel open.

Local gene therapy improves myocardial blood flow in refractory angina patients

For the first time, researchers have employed local gene therapy to boost myocardial blood flow in areas that have impaired perfusion reserves. They have also determined that elevated plasma Lp(a) can serve as a biomarker to identify those individuals with refractory angina (RA) who can benefit from the experimental therapy, gene transfer of VEGF-DΔNΔC.

Adults with acute coronary syndrome in registry differ from those in clinical trial

A registry analysis found that approximately one-third of patients who currently have acute coronary syndrome would have qualified for the IMPROVE-IT trial, which enrolled patients between 2005 and 2010.

Cardiovascular societies release AUC for revascularization in patients with ACS

Several medical societies recently released updated appropriate use criteria (AUC) for coronary revascularization in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

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