Present concepts of coronary atherosclerosis-thrombosis, therapeutic implications and perspectives

Our knowledge of the pathophysiology of coronary atherosclerosis has remarkably changed in the last few years, The types of atherosclerotic lesions, the mechanisms of progression of coronary atherosclerosis with plaque instability and disruption, and the subsequent thrombotic phenomenon leading to acute coronary syndromes are now better understood, Therapeutic strategies leading to atherosclerotic lesion stabilization and even regression, as well as new antithrombotic strategies to alleviate or prevent the thrombotic complications are being pursued, This review focuses on the coronary unstable atherosclerotic plaque and complicating thrombosis.