Acute myocardial infarction

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 389; no. 10065; pp. 197 - 210
• Main Authors: Reed, Grant W, MD, Rossi, Jeffrey E, MD, Cannon, Christopher P, Prof
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 14-01-2017; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Cardiology; Epidemiology; Heart attacks; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Internal Medicine; Medical treatment; Myocardial infarction; Myocardial Infarction - drug therapy; Myocardial Infarction - epidemiology; Myocardial Infarction - physiopathology; Myocardial Reperfusion - methods; Myocardial Reperfusion - trends; Pathology; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Risk Assessment; Statins; Thrombolytic Therapy
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30677-8

Summary Acute myocardial infarction has traditionally been divided into ST elevation or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction; however, therapies are similar between the two, and the overall management of acute myocardial infarction can be reviewed for simplicity. Acute myocardial infarction remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, despite substantial improvements in prognosis over the past decade. The progress is a result of several major trends, including improvements in risk stratification, more widespread use of an invasive strategy, implementation of care delivery systems prioritising immediate revascularisation through percutaneous coronary intervention (or fibrinolysis), advances in antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants, and greater use of secondary prevention strategies such as statins. This seminar discusses the important topics of the pathophysiology, epidemiological trends, and modern management of acute myocardial infarction, focusing on the recent advances in reperfusion strategies and pharmacological treatment approaches.