Unstable Angina Pectoris VAP and Acute Myocardial Infarction AMI – May 23, 2002

Unstable Angina Pectoris (VAP) and Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) – May 23, 2002

VAP and AMI together are referred to as acute coronary syndrome. The average age of onset for VAP is younger than that for AMI, but the coronary lesions are more severe. This may be due to the significant reduction in HDL-C and the marked increase in TG in VAP patients. The TC/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C ratios are significantly higher in VAP than in AMI. Although the coronary lesions in VAP are relatively more severe, the incidence of acute myocardial infarction is lower, possibly because long-term ischemia in these patients has already led to the development of abundant collateral circulation. Based on these reasons, treatment for VAP involves coronary artery bypass grafting, while AMI is better treated with PT-CA.