diagnosis
Last reviewed 12/2020
- it is essential to exclude a myocardial infarction with ST elevation for which managed as STEMI
- in unstable angina (and NSTEMI (previous known as non-Q wave infarction)) the ECG typically shows T wave inversion or ST segment depression - however the ECG may be normal if some time has elapsed since the last episode of pain
- the use of sensitive markers of myocardial necrosis (e.g. troponins T and I) has revealed that there is a continuum from myocardial ischaemia to non-Q wave infarction