Figure 4.

Integrated application of complementary approaches. Schematic to highlight the potential for diversity. In current clinical treatment pathways for acute ST segment elevation, MI is determined with clinical presentation, including duration of chest pain and the ECG. A coronary angiogram can identify the occlusion of a major epicardial artery treated with stent implantation and attendant anti-platelet drugs. Relevant secondary processes, some of which begin even before reperfusion therapy, play little or no part in patient stratification and decision making, even though they can vary widely in patients with very similar modes of presentation and early initial treatments. The green bubble represents a patient with successful PCI and no secondary adverse consequences. The brown bubble represents a patient with established infarction; microvascular dysfunction and activation of systemic inflammatory responses.