Volume 11, Number 4

Girish Purohit MRCP BSc Senior House Officer, Haematology, South Warwickshire Hospitals NHS Trust; Jonathan MR Goulding MRCP BSc Specialist Registrar, Dermatology, South Warwickshire Hospitals NHS Trust; Robert Charles-Holmes MD FRCP Consultant Dermatologist, South Warwickshire Hospitals NHS Trust; Peter Rose FRCP FRCPath Consultant Haematologist, South Warwickshire Hospitals NHS Trust; Paneesha Shankaranayana MRCP MRCPath Consultant Haematologist, Heart of England NHS Trust

Calciphylaxis, also referred to as calcific uraemic arteriolopathy, is a rare calcification syndrome associated with cutaneous ischaemic necrosis. It is seen almost exclusively in patients with renal disease and secondary hyperparathyroidism but can, rarely, occur in their absence. Its incidence is rising. It is often diagnosed late, contributing to the very high mortality rate, ranging between 50%–80% of cases. Death in these patients is often attributed to associated wound infection, sepsis and organ failure.

Peter Rose, Editor

Risk stratification for medical and surgical hospital inpatient thromboprophylaxis is a major issue for all hospital patients following the recent Chief Medical Officer’s report and NICE guidance. Implementation of thromboprophylaxis remains a difficult problem, particularly for medical inpatients. To date there have been no prospective studies evaluating the clinical algorithms currently in use.

Sharon Zahra MD DCH MRCPCH DipRCPath Haematology Department, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the commonest clinical problems, with an estimated incidence of three to four suspected cases per 1,000 general population every year. Of these, 0.1% and 0.05% are proven to have deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) respectively.

Tim Farren BSc(Hons) MIBMS Clinical Scientist (Grade A) and BMS Practitioner, Barts and The London NHS Trust; Celestine O’Shaughnessy PhD Scientific Advisor; Denise O’Shaughnessy FCRP FCRPath Senior Medical Advisor, Blood Policy Unit, Department of Health

The 21st Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) took place from 6–12 July 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland. With around 7,800 delegates from all over the world, it was the largest attended to date. Here, we highlight some issues of interest.

Denise O’Shaughnessy FCRP FCRPath, Senior Medical Advisor; Celestine O’Shaughnessy PhD Scientific Advisor, Blood Policy Unit, Department of Health

The total annual burden of venous thromboembolism (VTE) across the 27 member states of the European Union (population 459 million) is estimated to be 640,000 symptomatic deep vein thromboses and 383,000 pulmonary embolism (PE). VTE-related deaths are estimated at approximately 480,000. Of these deaths, 34,450 (7%) patients had been diagnosed with VTE and treated, 163,050 (34%) are estimated to be sudden fatal PE and 281,000 (59%) follow undetected PE.