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Thrombo-Inflammation in Cardiovascular Disease: An Expert Consensus Document from the Third Maastricht Consensus
Elisa d'Alessandro1, Christian Becker2, Wolfgang Bergmeier3
1Laboratory for Clinical Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Department of Biochemistry and Internal Medicine and Thrombosis Expert Center, Maastricht University Medical Center and CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Insights
Thrombo-inflammation, the link between blood clotting and inflammation, is key in cardiovascular diseases. Experts recommend strategies for managing conditions like heart attack and stroke.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Hematology
- Immunology
Background:
- Thrombo-inflammation, the interplay of coagulation and inflammation, is central to cardiovascular diseases.
- The Maastricht Consensus Conference convened experts to discuss its role in myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
Framework:
- Expert opinions and consensus on endothelial cell barrier challenges.
- Focus on circulating cells (platelets, neutrophils, NETs) in thrombo-inflammation.
- Discussion of procoagulant mechanisms and arterial vascular changes in atherogenesis.
Implementation:
- Strategies for attenuating atherosclerosis and ischemia/reperfusion injury.
- Management of patients with arterial vascular disease.
- Understanding venous thrombosis pathogenesis and long-term consequences.
Implications:
- Advances understanding of cardiovascular disease etiology and diagnostics.
- Provides expert recommendations for clinical management.
- Highlights critical areas for future research in thrombosis and inflammation.
Abstract:
Thrombo-inflammation describes the complex interplay between blood coagulation and inflammation that plays a critical role in cardiovascular diseases. The third Maastricht Consensus Conference on Thrombosis assembled basic, translational, and clinical scientists to discuss the origin and potential consequences of thrombo-inflammation in the etiology, diagnostics, and management of patients with cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. This article presents a state-of-the-art reflection of expert opinions and consensus recommendations regarding the following topics: (1) challenges of the endothelial cell barrier; (2) circulating cells and thrombo-inflammation, focused on platelets, neutrophils, and neutrophil extracellular traps; (3) procoagulant mechanisms; (4) arterial vascular changes in atherogenesis; attenuating atherosclerosis and ischemia/reperfusion injury; (5) management of patients with arterial vascular disease; and (6) pathogenesis of venous thrombosis and late consequences of venous thromboembolism.
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