[Thrombophilia, prethrombotic conditions, hypercoagulability]

The editorial deals with the state of art from the terminological point of view a very important problem of thrombosis and thromboembolic states. According to world medical statistics these diseases are one of the most frequent causes of illness and death. The rationale for the writing of this editorial is imposed by many controversies in Serbian medical literature related to diagnosis, treatment and especially prophylaxis of these pathologic states and the state of the art of the above mention problems in foreign medical literature. On the basis of the study of the state of the art in foreign medical literature. It could be concluded that the biochemical basis of thrombophilia, pre-thrombotic states and hypercoagulability is, in fact, the same phenomenon with regard to the disturbed dynamic balance between activating factors of haemostatic system and inhibitory factors. Activating factors of haemostatic system are prevailing in these pathological condition. The difference is express, however, in a different clinical feature of this unbalance which lead, earlier or later, to thrombosis. It is emphasized that markers which predicts occurrence of thrombosis have not yet been recognized and that the significance of the activation of the haemostatic system have to be established by multicentre investigations, i.e. that the role of these markers in the development of thrombotic diseases should be established. At the same time, on the review of the current Serbian medical literature, it is concluded due to lack of technical prerequisites the current doctrinaire definition of the above mentioned states can not be carried out in our medical institutions and laboratories.