Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) Definitions - Stable Angina, Unstable Angina, NSTEMI, STEMI

1 STABLE ANGINA - Angina pain develops when there is increased demand in the setting of a stable atherosclerotic 

plaque. The vessel is unable to dilate enough to allow adequate blood flow to meet the myocardial 

2 UNSTABLE ANGINA 

- The plaque ruptures and a thrombus forms around the ruptured plaque, causing partial occlusion of the 

vessel. Angina pain occurs at rest or progresses rapidly over a short period of time. 

3 NSTEMI 

 - During an NSTEMI, the plaque rupture and thrombus formation causes partial occlusion to the vessel 

that results in injury and infarct to the subendocardial myocardium. 

4 STEMI 

 - A STEMI is characterized by complete occlusion the blood vessel lumen, resulting in transmural injury and infarct to the myocardium, which is reflected by ECG changes and a rise in troponins.



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