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Part of the book series: Contemporary Cardiology ((CONCARD))

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Abstract

The underlying precipitant of unstable angina non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI) is the ruptured or fissured coronary plaque, or endothelial erosion, which elicits a complex interaction between the coagulation cascade and platelets to form a thrombus. The majority of these disruptions and resulting thrombi cause only insignificant obstruction to coronary blood flow. However, a large thrombus can cause a significant impediment to coronary flow resulting in ischemia. This thrombus may resolve spontaneously with restoration of blood flow, or propagate to cause further ischemia. Often, this process can lead to complete occlusion of the vessel precipitating a myocardial infarction (MI) (1–9).

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Cohen, M. (2003). Anticoagulant Therapies. In: Cannon, C.P. (eds) Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes. Contemporary Cardiology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-351-4_16

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