Latebreakers: ACC/AHA issue update to UA/NSTEMI guidelines

The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) have issued an update to their Unstable Angina/ Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (UA/NSTEMI) guidelines, last published in 2002. Among the changes in drug therapy is a recommendation for antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel for at least a year after receiving a drug-eluting stent. The new guide also advises cessation of NSAIDs for all UA/NSTEMI patients during hospitalization as well as discontinuation of hormonal replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. In addition, the revision outlines steps to prevent a recurrent MI, including use of ACE inhibitors and aldosterone receptor blockers. High-dose vitamin E, vitamin C, folic acid, and beta-carotene are no longer recommended. The new guidelines can be accessed on-line at http://www.cardiosource.com/guidelinefocus/gfc_acs.asp/.