New adjunctive therapy for ischemic syndromes

Because anticoagulant and GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors reduce mortality, myocardial ischemia, AMI, and reintervention, these agents are now becoming the standard of care for patients with USA and NQWMI. Unanswered questions remain about the best treatment regimen, appropriate dosing, long-term benefit, and cost-effectiveness of these agents, however, and many additional trials are ongoing or planned. As nurses administer these drugs, assess the patients' responses to therapy, and educate patients and families about these agents, they contribute to recent advances in preventing ischemic heart disease.