SCIENTIFIC SUBCOMMITTEE SESSION
6 July 2007 Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland  

Predictive Variables in Cardiovascular Disease

Chair: G. Lowe ( UK)
Co-Chairs: P. Grant ( UK), V. Salomaa ( Finland), A. Tosetto ( Italy)

Drs Lowe and Tosetto presented a summary of the draft report, prepared by the Chair/Co-Chairs, on Haemostatic Variables in Prediction of Arterial Cardiovascular Events in healthy persons. This was discussed. A further draft will be prepared in October, incorporating the discussion points as well as comments from invited experts. A final draft will be submitted to SSC by end 2007.

Dr Salomaa presented a review of thrombomodulin (antigen, activity and genotypes) and their associations with cardiovascular events. Further work was recommended especially on activity and genotypes.

Dr R Tait presented a study of fibrin D-dimer and other haemostatic variables in prediction of embolic events in persons with atrial fibrillation. D-dimer appeared to add predictive value to the CHADS clinical score. Further management studies were suggested.

A further report on haemostatic variables in prediction of arterial cardiovascular events in persons with established cardiovascular disease was discussed as a possible future Subcommittee activity.

Dr G Palareti reviewed published studies on D-dimer as a predictor of recurrent venous thromboembolic events after discontinuation of oral anticoagulants; and gave an update from the ongoing PROLONG-2 trial. Dr M Verhovsek presented a meta-analysis of the published studies of D-dimer as a predictor of such events. Dr P Meijer reviewed progress with harmonisation of D-dimer assays in management of VTE, including an update from the Fibrinolysis Subcommittee. After discussion, it was recommended that the Predictive Subcommittee should draft a brief report on the predictive value for recurrent VTE of D-dimer (perhaps including an updated meta-analysis, possibly including individual participant data) and other haemostatic variables, in liaison with the Subcommittee on Fibrinolysis. A further report on haemostatic variables in prediction of first VTE events was discussed as a possible future Subcommittee activity.