Tag Archives: acute coronary syndromes

Introduction Anticoagulant therapy is an essential component in the treatment and prevention of venous and arterial thromboembolic events. In recent years, direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have replaced vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for many of these indications, due to their more favourable risk-benefit profile.1 Despite this, bleeding remains a significant concern with DOACs, especially in patients at high risk, such as those with an indication for concurrent antiplatelet therapy, and may lead to poor adherence or undertreatment.2–4 Safer anticoagulation that spares haemostasis without compromising efficacy is, therefore, desirab

Background Thrombus formation in the coronary tree is the principal cause of acute coronary syndromes (ACS).1 Following plaque rupture or erosion, platelets adhere to exposed ligands (collagen, von Willebrand factor [vWF]) under high-flow conditions and this leads to platelet activation. Following platelet adhesion and activation, multiple agonists are secreted, including thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). TXA2 further activates platelets and ADP amplifies and sustains platelets’ activation, particularly through platelet P2Y12 receptors.2 In view of the pivotal role of platelets in arterial thrombosis, blocking TXA2 pro

Introduction Stable angina is the most common manifestation of coronary heart disease. While considered relatively benign in terms of prognosis, the condition confers a higher risk of cardiovascular events than in the general population, with average annual mortality rates of 1–2%. Guidelines for the management of stable angina are relatively conservative in their approach, given their process of development. Moreover, stable angina management has not been as rigorously evaluated in large randomised trials as other coronary conditions. The role of newer treatment options in management algorithms also merits wider consideration. This expert

UK cholesterol awareness low Millions of people in the UK hold incorrect beliefs about the risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to HEART UK research. The research, which tested 1,177 people on their knowledge and concerns about high cholesterol, revealed that more than 40% of respondents wrongly thought that raised cholesterol resulted from drinking too much, while almost 60% did not know that the condition can be inherited. Almost half the population have never had a cholesterol check and only 2% of those surveyed named high cholesterol as their biggest health concern. The top health worry for people was cancer, even though CVD i

They note that although cardiovascular deaths are declining, there were still over 40,000 patients with NSTEMI acute coronary syndromes admitted to hospital in England and Wales in 2009. With worrying increases in the incidence of key risk factors – obesity, diabetes, and the tendency for people to take less exercise – the management of these conditions remains a high priority. As its starting point, the guideline recommends that as soon as a diagnosis of unstable angina or NSTEMI has been made, and aspirin and antithrombin drugs have been offered, patients should be formally assessed for their individual risk of future adverse cardiovasc

Introduction As the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) has changed over recent years, so cardiology services have had to adapt their configurations. We instituted a comprehensive system of nurse specialist-led diagnosis and management of ACS and audited the impact of these changes. The evidence informing our management of ACS patients comes from national registries, such as the prospective registry of acute ischaemic syndrome in the UK (PRAIS-UK)1 and large clinical trials.2-3 The PRAIS-UK registry investigated the management and outcome of 1,046 patients with unstable angina (UA) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarc

No content available

No content available

No content available

No content available