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Volume 3, Number 3 |
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| Air travel and venous thrombosis |
Patrick Kesteven MB BS FRCP FRACP FRCPath PhD Consultant Haematologist; Brian Robinson BSc(Hons) FIBMS DMLM CertEd RGN Haematology Research Nurse, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
Reports of an association between commercial air travel and venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) have been appearing for over 40 years.1,2 Media attention became focused when the term ‘economy class syndrome’ was coined in 1988.3 |
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| Developing a haemostasis link nurse service |
Steve Davidson BSc(Hons) RN DipN Haemostasis and Thrombosis Clinical Nurse, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham |
As the pressure increases to develop the role of haemostasis specialist nurses, and the number of anticoagulated patients spirals upward, how can we find the time to ensure that the needs of our client group are being met effectively during hospitalisation? |
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| Near-patient INR measurement – a review of three systems |
E T Murray MSc Research Fellow; David Fitzmaurice MRCGP Senior Lecturer, Department of General Practice, The Medical School, Birmingham |
Several near-patient testing (NPT) systems are available for INR estimation. These afford the possibility of devolved INR measurement outside the hospital laboratory – for example, in primary care or even for patients to measure their own INR. Given the difficulties already established with laboratory standardisation of INR measurement,1–3 it is essential that NPT for INR measurement is evaluated within the area in which it is to be used. |
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| DVT treatment – the primary care case |
David Fitzmaurice MRCGP Senior Lecturer, Department of General Practice, The Medical School, Birmingham |
In the last issue of Thrombus (1999; 3(2): 2) Dr Rose argued for the retention of responsibility for DVT treatment within the hospital sector, despite the fact that the only real function of the hospital within the model proposed is to establish a diagnosis. |
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| Thrombosis in sickle cell disease |
Antonio Almeida MRCP Specialist Registrar; Sally Davies FRCP FRCPath Consultant Haematologist, Central Middlesex Hospital, London |
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common haemoglobinopathies in Britain, affecting approximately 175 live births every year in England.1 It is caused by a point mutation that leads to the substitution of valine for glutamic acid at position 6 of the beta chain, thus forming a structural haemoglobin variant, HbS. |
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