Synopses & Reviews
While the enzyme cascade that allows coagulation is well known physiologically, its elegant practical examples are vividly demonstrable in the clinical application of blood and components for the treatment of bleeding problems in surgery, trauma or in congenital deficiency in patients. This volume provides the fundamental and recent understanding relating to coagulation pathways, recombinant technology and other methods for coagulation factor production, up to date laboratory assay, preservation of cellular and plasma components, and their clinical use in surgery and medicine, including the immuno response to repeated challenge to contaminating protein in coagulation factor concentrates. The interrelated but multi-disciplinary chapters have been integrated in four sections: Principles and Fundamentals: Mechanism of thrombin formation; structure -- function relationship of coagulation proteins, role of calcium and anticoagulant: blood collection on haemostatic potential of plasma proteins and platelets; Factor VIII yields from anticoagulant exchanged plasma. Preservation Aspects: Platelet function preservation, platelet interaction with vessel wall; trends in the use of coagulation factor concentrate; immuno purification of Factor VIII; structural and fundamental properties of recombinant coagulation factors. Laboratory Aspects: Platelets counting and function testing; platelet crossmatch predictive value; clinical efficacy of platelet concentrate; protein C and protein S; principle of coagulation factor assay; standardisation of clotting factor assays; clinical efficacy of clotting factor concentrates. Clinical Consequences
Synopsis
With great pleasure I welcome you to the City of Groningen. In more than one way there is cause for celebration. Today marks the third lustrum of the annual international sympo sium on blood transfusion, organized by the Rode Kruis Bloedbank Groningen-Drenthe. In my opinion it has been a remarkable initiative of the Bloedbank, to start organizing a scientific conference, as it did, in 1976. It meant, among others, that in case of success the initiative would grow to be an annual item on the international congress calen der. It also meant that a possible third lustrum would coincide with the celebration of the 950th anniversary of the City of Groningen. I am happy to note that the initiative has been successful: over the past fourteen years the Rode Kruis Bloedbank Groningen-Drenthe has succeeded in organizing an annual symposium on blood transfusion, with a different theme each year, and with an average attendance of 250 participants from some 26 countries world-wide. The platform created with the special formula of the symposium, for science and industry, has been well balanced and beneficial to both. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I like to compliment the organizers with the success that they have attained. Allow me to men tion the name of just one person, in whom I like to thank everyone who has been involved in creating the annual Bloedbank-symposia: my warm congratulations to Dr. Smit Sibinga and his staff."