to the myocardium. Irreversible eveniS are certainly preceded by a destabilization of a former stable situation. This desta­ bilization may occur with increasing symptomatology or without apparent warning signs to patient and physician; it may occur over a longer time period or very sud­ denly. The statemenl, however, holds true that no patient has ever died from stable angina pectoris. Thus, if the prognosis for patients with ischemic heart disease is to be improved, the focus has to be set on recognition and treatment of unstable ischemic syndromes. It was the goal of the conference to gather scientists and clinicans from different fields of research, to get an up-to-date view of the different aspects of unstable ischemic syndromes and to foster interdisciplinary discussions.