Editorial - April 2020

Update from the ESC Working Group on Thrombosis

Dear Members of the Working Group on Thrombosis

I know all of us in some way are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and I hope you are all keeping well.

The main document from our working group is an important position paper on Antithrombotic therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome complicated by cardiogenic shock or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a joint position paper from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Working Group on Thrombosis, in association with the Acute Cardiovascular Care Association (ACCA) and European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) published in the European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy.

This consensus document has been written by experts in the field and highlights the challenges in delivering optimal antithrombotic therapy to the highest risk ACS patients with cardiogenic shock or post-cardiac arrest. It also carefully covers other areas, such as patients with shock and mechanical circulatory support, which is a particular problem with many patients with COVID-19 currently, some of whom also have cardiac injury.

Please do read this important document which has important consensus statements for best practice.

For the Young members of the Working Group on Thrombosis, please find below some news for the young community.

With best wishes

Dirk Sibbing, Chair, WGT

Gemma Vilahur, Chair Elect, WGT

 Bianca Rocca, Past Chair, WGT

Andrea Rubboli, Treasurer, WGT

Diana Gorog, Secretary, WGT

Update from the Young Thrombosis Group

Too often heart disease and stroke are considered in isolation, both in the clinic and the laboratory.  However, the ESC Heart & Stroke meeting, hosted this year in January in the pleasant setting of Barcelona, presented an excellent opportunity for cardiovascular scientists, cardiologists, strokeologists, neurologists, neuroradiologists and allied professionals to meet, learn and network, illustrating the shared interests of those managing heart and cerebrovascular disease.

The ESC Clinical Case Gallery is always worth browsing to keep minds open when it comes to pathological processes concerning thrombosis.

For example, a recent case reported by Dr. Gala and colleagues involved embolism of a venous thrombus causing not only a saddle pulmonary embolus but also an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction after travelling through a patent foramen ovale. This reminds us of the sometimes unusual presentations that can manifest from thrombosis, and these can often also involve those leading to stroke.

Although COVID-19 is gravely affecting all our activities, please do not miss this challenge to apply to all ESC-related opportunities for the Young Community. We shall overcome it!!

Meanwhile, take care and stay safe!

Dr. William Parker and Dr. Gemma Chiva-Blanch, on behalf of the Young Thrombosis Group 

>> Retrieve other Working Group news