Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients with unstable angina/non-ST–segment elevation myocardial infarction: Appropriate interpretation of the guidelines

In 2002, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association published an update to their guidelines for the management of patients with unstable angina and non-ST–segment elevation myocardial infarction. These revised guidelines make specific recommendations regarding the use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. This article briefly reviews the evidence supporting the use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in unstable angina and non-ST–segment elevation myocardial infarction, before moving on to discuss interpretation of these new guidelines.