[Acute coronary syndromes].

Recently, unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death have often been put together under the name 'acute coronary syndromes', because almost all of these conditions have been shown to be caused by thrombotic occlusion of a coronary artery following atherosclerotic plaque disruption. Acute coronary syndromes occur more frequently in the coronary arteries with no significant organic stenosis than in those with a higher degree of stenosis. A plaque prone to disruption has a thin fibrous cap, a large lipid core and increased infiltration of macrophages and T lymphocytes. The elimination or control of risk factors for atherosclerosis such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus, obesity and lack of exercise is essential for the prevention of acute coronary syndromes.