Hormone therapy (HT) increases the risk of cardiovascular and thromboembolic disease in post-menopausal women. Recent studies have suggested that prothrombotic mechanisms are likely to be involved. Transdermal HT avoids the first-pass effect of oestrogen in the liver and may have a less marked effect on the haemostatic system than equivalent oral preparations. The majority of studies have compa...

There is a marked socioeconomic gradient in the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and in subclinical atherosclerosis (1, 2). Haemostatic and rheological factors may contribute to this pattern. Socioeconomic gradients in fibrinogen have been described in the Whitehall II study (3) and in other cohorts (4, 5). Socioeconomic status (SES) is also inversely associated with the concentration ...

The use of Celox, a chitosan-based haemostatic agent, for the control of massive traumatic bleeding in patients arriving at a ROLE 2 (Enhanced Care) Facility in southwestern Afghanistan is described. Twenty-one soldiers with gunshot wounds were treated with successful haemostasis in 18 at the first application and in three after further applications. Celox is an effective haemostatic agent and ...

Sepsis is a common cause of death in infants and children. Haemostatic abnormalities have been reported in such patients. There is scant information on the nature and frequency of these abnormalities in children especially from India. Our aim was to evaluate the nature and frequency of haematological and haemostatic abnormalities in children with sepsis. Fifty children between 1-10 years of age...

We set out to determine if the heparinase-modified thrombelastogram using anticoagulated blood from patients during cardiac surgery could guide treatment with haemostatic components. In 60 patients a simple algorithm predicted a possible 60-80% decrease in the use of haemostatic components. In a second series, 30 patients were allocated to receive components using this intra-operative algorithm...

Leukocyte recruitment to sites of inflammation, infection or vascular injury is a complex event that is orchestrated by a tightly coordinated sequence of interactions between leukocytes and cells of the vessel wall, especially endothelial cells. These interactions are controlled by the expression and activation of various adhesion receptors and protease systems. This review will focus on novel ...

Abnormal haemostasis, and specifically a pre-thrombotic state characterized by hypercoagulability, increased platelet aggregation and impaired fibrinolysis, is associated with increased atheroma and thrombosis. The recent literature clearly indicates that diet may prevent or be used to treat some abnormal haemostatic states. There are reports on effects of energy intake and expenditure, alcohol...