New developments in thrombosis and coagulation therapy.

The 15(th) International Congress on Thrombosis (Mediterranean League against Thromboembolic Disease), held October 16-21, 1998, in Antalya, Turkey, brought researchers and clinicians up to date on the latest developments in thrombosis, hemostasis, coagulation and hematology, including epidemiology, use of traditional anticoagulants, heparin-associated thrombocytopenia and novel antithrombotic and antiplatelet agents. The pharmacology and clinical use of different heparins present in the market were extensively reviewed, and the characteristics of new LMWHs being launched in the market were presented in numerous communications. Recent issues regarding the efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulation in various indications were also reviewed in several lectures and communications. An important number of the presentations during the meeting focused on pharmacological, experimental and clinical studies with novel antithrombotic drugs. The development of specific inhibitors for collagen motifs or platelet receptors may become a promising alternative for the modulation of platelet function. The ability to manipulate macrophage proliferation and death may have therapeutic implications. Pharmacological inhibition of protein kinases and protein phosphatases could also provide new therapeutic approaches for the control of excessive platelet interactions. Recent studies suggest that PMN integrins are a potential target for pharmacological intervention.