This book provides some answers to some of the most difficult questions faced by clinicians presented with this common syndrome. Internationally renowned cardiologists critically appraise the literature and together with their own clinical wisdom and experience present an informed view. The focus of the book is on the likely implications for diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Topics already well covered in the standard textbooks have been avoided, so that only subjects of real controversy can be explored.
-- A key field of cardiology, that includes heart attack and angina.
-- The text distils clinical information on prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
-- Individual chapters on new classes of drugs.
-- The focus is of areas of uncertainly and controversy.

Much remains to be learned about the acute coronary syndromes (ACS) of acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and sudden ischemic death, despite their contribution to the high mortality and morbidity of heart disease. These 17 chapters by international contributors address work-in-progress relating to physiology and pathophysiology, diagnostic considerations, and therapeutic approaches. The first paper begins with the starting point in any discussion of ACS: coronary atherosclerosis. Others treat the role of infection, genetics, advanced imaging, and novel treatments. The late Professor de Bono headed the U. of Leicester's division of cardiology, Sobel is in the U. of Vermont's department of medicine.
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This book aims to present some answers to the most difficult questions presented to clinicians when they see patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Internationally known cardiologists critically appraise the literature and, together with their own clinical wisdom and experience of research, present an informed view. The focus is on the implications for diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Topics already well-covered in the standard textbooks have been avoided, so that only subjects of real controversy can be explored.

Ch. 1. Is it all plaque rupture? — Ch. 2. Plaque vulnerability and acute coronary syndromes: what are the prophylactic and therapeutic implications? — Ch. 3. What is the role of infection in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes? — Ch. 4. What is the role of coronary tone in acute coronary syndromes? — Ch. 5. What is known about the genetics of acute coronary syndromes? — Ch. 6. What is the role of advanced electrocardiology? — Ch. 7. Biochemical tests in suspected acute coronary syndromes: which test when? — Ch. 8. What is the role of MRI in coronary syndromes? — Ch. 9. Advance imaging-PET — Ch. 10. Does stress testing have a role? — Ch. 11. What is the role of echocardiography in acute coronary syndromes? — Ch. 12. Treatment of acute coronary syndromes: which heparin and for how long? — Ch. 13. What about the novel antiplatelet agents? — Ch. 14. What is the value of novel thrombolytic drugs and combination therapies in acute coronary syndromes? — Ch. 15. Preconditioning, what is its potential? — Ch. 16. Is myocardial protection effective? — Ch. 17. Catheter-based interventions for treatment of acute coronary syndromes.