Current guidelines for the management of unstable angina: a new diagnostic and management paradigm*

The new guidelines reflect a worldwide change to more sensitive diagnostic strategies and more aggressive management of unstable angina. Stratification to high risk now includes those patients with only a minor degree of electrocardiographic ST depression (0.5 mm) or a significant elevation of cardiac troponin. High-risk patients are recommended to be treated with intensive medical and invasive management. Intermediate-risk patients may be best evaluated using an accelerated diagnostic strategy over an 8–12 h period before being reclassified as high or low risk. (Intern Med J 2001; 31: 104–111)