[Current and future prospects in haemostasis]

Solving the human genome and new technical tools are nowadays rapidly increasing the knowledge of haemostasis. This includes the identification of novel genes, the understanding of complex phenotypes as thromboembolic disorders, the scientific exploration of the involved proteins by means of crystal structure, protein-protein-interactions and protein expression profiles as well as the development of new and more selectively acting anticoagulant drugs. The impact of haemostasis proteins in fields beyond haemostasis such as wound healing, angiogenesis, inflammation, immune system, and tumour growth is becoming more evident. Patients will profit from these developments by individualised prevention and therapy regimens, including future approaches of regenerative medicine as stem cell and gene therapy.