Korean J Nucl Med.  2005 Apr;39(2):87-93.

Updates in the Management of Coronary Artery Disease

• Yang DH
• Chae SC

Abstract

Coronary artery disease (CAD) has been increasing during the last decade and is the one of major causes of death. The management of patients with coronary artery disease has evolved considerably. There are two main strategies in the management of CAD, complementary, not competitive, each other; the pharmacologic therapy to prevent and treat CAD and the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to restore coronary flow. Antiplatelet drugs and cholesterol lowering drugs have central roles in pharmacotherapy. Drug eluting stent (DES) bring about revolutional changes in PCI. In the management of patients with ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI), there has been a debate on the better strategy for the restoration of coronary flow. Thrombolytic therapy is widely available and easy to administer, whereas primary PCI is less available and more complex, but more complete. Recently published evidences in the pharmacologic therapy including antiplatelet and statin, and PCI including DES and reperfusion therapy in patients with ST segment elevation AMI were reviewed.

Keyword

Coronary artery disease; Antiplatelet; Statin; Drug eluting stent; Acute myocardial infarction

MeSH Terms

Cause of Death
Cholesterol
Coronary Artery Disease*
Coronary Vessels*
Drug Therapy
Humans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
Myocardial Infarction
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
Reperfusion
Stents
Thrombolytic Therapy
Cholesterol
Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors