NONINVASIVE RISK STRATIFICATION IN UNSTABLE CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE -EXERCISE TEST AND BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS

Early risk assessment is essential for the application of appropriate treatment and further management in patients with unstable coronary ar tery disease, i.e., unstable angina or non-Q-wave myocardial infarctio n, in this article, the use of exercise testing and biochemical marker s for identification of high-and low-risk patients is discussed, with special reference to experiences from the FRISC (Fragmin During instab ility in Coronary Artery Disease) trial, It is concluded that a sympto m-limited predischarge exercise test (provided all relevant informatio n obtained is considered] and determination of troponin T are inexpens ive, widely applicable, and useful methods for early risk stratificati on in both men and women after an episode of unstable coronary artery disease, (C) 1997 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.