Thrombosis and Thromboembolism PDF

Preface

Thrombosis and Thromboembolism serves the medical and scientific community by compiling a timely and comprehensive update on this rapidly evolving field. Our contribution covers fundamental and clinical aspects of this broad topic and focuses on both arterial and venous disease, ranging from acute coronary syndromes to acute pulmonary embolism.

Vascular medicine is now recognized as a crucially important component of cardiovascular medicine, which is no longer confined to the study of acute myocardial infarction. Multiple sessions on peripheral arterial disease, pulmonary embolism, and deep venous thrombosis are now included at the three major cardiovascular meetings: the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the European Society of Cardiology. Attendance is often "standing room only." Despite keen interest by cardiovascular physicians and scientists, the field is interdisciplinary and is shared by internists, hematologists, angiologists, pulmonologists, epidemiologists, vascular radiologists, and cardiovascular surgeons. The interdisciplinary involvement in thrombotic problems is perhaps exemplified by the soaring membership in the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, which celebrated an all-time high in registration at its most recent meeting in Paris.

Our book is written to assist the practicing physician, clinical investigator, and scientist dedicated to translational research. We have devoted Part I to fundamental issues of hypercoagulability, including the pivotal role of inflammation, several crucial hypercoagulable states, and the topic of hormone replacement therapy. Part II updates the therapy of acute coronary syndromes, including acute myocardial infarction (both ST-segment and non-ST-segment elevation) and unstable angina. We focus on novel approaches using low-molecular-weight heparins, direct thrombin inhibitors, and platelet inhibitors. Part III provides a contemporary update of the miraculous interventions that have occurred in the treatment of arterial thrombosis in the catheterization laboratory. These successes are due, in part, to adjunctive antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapy. Part IV focuses on venous thromboembolism, an area that for decades has been neglected, but which is now being recognized as "the other half" of the key to managing thrombotic disorders. This section includes state-of-the-art chapters on etiology, diagnosis, and pharmacological management of pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis. Part V concludes the book with the remarkable achievements in the interventional laboratory and operating room for patients stricken with extensive and potentially life-threatening venous thromboembolism.

In addition to our role as co-editors, we co-authored 5 of the 20 chapters. In all cases, we ensured that the chapters are filled with summary tables, illustrative figures, and recent references. Our philosophy was to provide each chapter with a critical analysis of the topic along with conclusions based upon global assessment of all available knowledge. Thrombosis and Thromboembolism has achieved the balance for which we strived.

We wish to thank some of the individuals who helped make this book possible. Peter Libby, M.D., Chief of the Cardiovascular Division at Brigham and Women's Hospital, provided the personal encouragement, set the standard of excellence, and has served as a role model for us. We appreciate greatly his Foreword. We have also benefited immeasurably from the mentorship of Eugene Braunwald, M.D., and Arthur Sasahara, M.D., both luminaries in the field of thrombosis and thromboembolism. We are grateful to the individual contributors who have taken time from their multiple demands to write and revise their excellent chapters. With regard to the administrative challenge, Ms. Nicole Grimaldi performed exceptionally. A special word of thanks is due to the professional staff of Marcel Dekker, Inc., especially to Ms. Sandra Beberman, Vice President. Finally, we are profoundly appreciative of our families who supported us during the evolution and completion of this book.