Description/Etiology
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI; also referred to as heart attack) is the rapid development of myocardial necrosis
(i.e., death of an area of heart muscle) due to an inadequate supply of oxygen. AMI is most commonly caused by a
clot that blocks a coronary artery previously narrowed from a buildup of plaque. Additional causes of AMI include
coronary artery spasm, embolic infarction, arteritis, and cocaine-induced vasospasm. (For further information, see
Quick Lesson About… Acute Myocardial Infarction ).