ANTITHROMBOTIC THERAPIES IN THE EMERGENCY FOR ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

This narrative literature review brought together articles published in the last ten years in the PUBMED and SciELO databases, aiming to review the use of antithrombotic therapies in the emergency room for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the selected literature. ACS encompasses unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction without ST segment elevation and with ST segment elevation, being one of the main causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The global incidence is high, with approximately 1.2 million events annually in the US. Risk factors for ACS include dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes mellitus, physical inactivity and obesity, in addition to non-modifiable factors such as advanced age, male gender and family history of coronary artery disease. The interaction of these factors contributes to the rupture of atherosclerotic plaques and the formation of thrombi. In the emergency management of ACS, antithrombotic therapies are essential to prevent thrombus formation and stabilize atherosclerotic plaques. They include anticoagulants (such as heparin and direct thrombin inhibitors), antiplatelet agents (such as aspirin and P2Y12 receptor inhibitors) and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. Studies demonstrate the effectiveness of these therapies in reducing adverse cardiovascular events, and are recommended by clinical guidelines to improve outcomes for patients with ACS.