Antithrombotic Strategies in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes Undergoing Early Invasive Management

Abstract

Early angiography followed by interventional or surgical revascularization when appropriate has been shown to result in reduced rates of death, myocardial infarction (MI), refractory ischemia, and rehospitalization in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS; unstable angina or non–ST-segment elevation MI).^1,2 Because both MI and hemorrhagic complications have been associated with early and late mortality in patients with ACS and in those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI),^3-12 the optimal adjunctive pharmacological regimen to support the invasive approach in ACS would ideally suppress adverse ischemic and thrombotic events while minimizing iatrogenic bleeding.