Acute coronary syndromes result from plaque rupture with formation of an occlusive thrombus in a coronary artery. If there is:
These two groups of acute coronary syndromes require different therapeutic management
Pathophysiological events leading to acute coronary syndromes

Adapted from Yeghiazarians, et al. N Engl J Med 2000;342:101-14
Stable angina
Angina is a pain or discomfort in the chest or adjacent areas generally caused by ischaemic coronary disease. Angina is "stable" if the chest pain appears during physical effort and is relieved by rest or medication within a short period of time (usually 15 minutes).
Clinical classification of acute coronary syndromes according to electrocardiographic and biochemical markers of myocardial necrosis (troponin T, troponin I, and creatine kinase MB)

Grech and Ramsdale. BMJ 2003;326:1259-61