Toward 50 Years of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis

Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis (STH) has been part of the Thrombosis and Hemostasis landscape for almost 50 years. STH was first published in 1974, and so will turn 50 in 2024. As we head toward this landmark date, we thought it useful to embark on a series of STH issues containing content of a somewhat historical nature. The current issue of STH, the last for 2022, marks the first of these issues. We are not yet 50, but we are getting close. STH was founded by Eberhard F. Mammen ([ Fig. 1 ]), who I would consider a giant in the Thrombosis and Hemostasis field at that time. The journal started small, with only two issues and some 210 printed pages in its first year. This essentially doubled in the next year (1975), with four issues and 408 printed pages. This growth has continued over the years, with STH now publishing eight issues, and some 900 printed pages, per year ([ Fig. 2 ]). STH actually achieved a landmark of over 1,000 printed pages in 2020, and published just shy of 1,000 pages in 2021. At the time of writing, 2022 content will likely return to the more typical count of close to 900 pages. Fig. 1 Eberhard F. Mammen (1930–2008). Fig. 2 Number of pages (left y-axis) and number of issues (right y-axis) published in Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis per year by year 1974 to 2021. All the material published by STH now appears online, and although STH still publishes in print, most content is now sourced by readers online. It is incredible that all of the STH content, from 1974 to now, is available for the STH readership ( https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/issue/10.1055/s-012-53274 ), except the inaugural first issue, which appears unfortunately lost to us. If anyone has a copy of the first issue, we would love to have this to add the content online to complete the journal's online content. There has been much change and progress in the intervening 50 years. In regards to the journal, at the time of writing there were over 3,500 entries attributed to STH in PubMed, with content obviously increasing on a year to year basis ([ Fig. 3 ]). There were also a few bumper issues with additional content published in some years – for example, 1990 and 1992, with these perhaps acting as a primer to increase the number of issues/year from 4 to 6 in 1996. Fig. 3 Number of articles published in Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis per year by year 1974 to 2020 according to PubMed. Eberhard Mammen remained Editor in Chief (EIC) of STH from 1994 to the year of his passing, 2008, at which time I was asked by the publisher to take over. I had previously been a Regional Editor (covering the Asia-Pacific region; from 2006–2008) and had also Guest Edited several issues of the journal prior to that. Accordingly, Eberhard had essentially been EIC of the journal for 35 years, whereas my tenure to date has only been 14 years. I suspect I will not be EIC in 2044, so it is unlikely that my tenure, or indeed the tenure of any future STH EIC, will surpass that of Eberhard. I met Eberhard and his wife on a trip they took to Australia in 2007. Perhaps he was contemplating retirement from his EIC position at that time, and naturally the journal came up in conversation several times. He may even have been evaluating me as a potential replacement EIC, although I had no such ambitions at that time (I was then in my late 40s). Nevertheless, Eberhard's failing health and eventual passing in 2008 created a time-critical need for a replacement EIC, and I was asked by the publisher to take on the role. I remember 2008 and 2009 as tumultuous times, having to create content for the journal quickly and in sufficient quantity to keep the journal publishing. I guest edited of the eight issues of STH in both years, not something that I felt was good for either me or the journal in the long term. I published my first paper in STH 20 years ago in 2002.[ 1 ] It is perhaps appropriate that this paper is reflected on in a somewhat historical context, with the topic being the role of the von Willebrand factor (VWF) collagen-binding (VWF:CB) (activity) assay in the diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (VWD). The VWF:CB remains a personal favorite of mine, and I still continue to publish on both the VWF:CB and VWD, with several related papers published in 2022.[ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] Nevertheless, the VWF:CB does deserve another historical evaluation in STH, but this can await another issue in this series. I mention this in part because VWD was also a favorite of Eberhard's. It is also perhaps fitting that another of Eberhard's pet topics, the platelet function analyzer (PFA), also became a pet topic of mine. Indeed, one of his early papers on the PFA-100 remains one of the all-time five most cited papers from STH ([ Table 1 ]).[ 7 ] It also represents Eberhard's most cited publication. Another paper on the PFA-100, published in 1995, is also on this top five list ([ Table 1 ]).[ 8 ] That paper provided the first ever comprehensive description of the PFA-100 in the scientific and medical literature. Another paper from Eberhard on the PFA-100 was also published in 1995.[ 9 ] It is no doubt that these three papers on the PFA-100 paved the way for the manufacturer to gain regulatory approval/clearance for the instrument in several countries. One of my own publications around the PFA-100, written as a tribute to Eberhard Mammen in 2008,[ 10 ] is also well cited, being in the all-time 30 most cited papers from STH ([ Table 1 ]). Fast track to 2022, and a PubMed search of “PFA-100 or “platelet function analyzer” or PFA-200” yields over 1,000 hits, with 27 papers published in STH. Table 1 The most highly cited papers from Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis[ a ] Number Citation Number of times cited WOS[ b ] Scopus[ c ] 1 Baskurt OK, Meiselman HJ. Blood rheology and hemodynamics. Semin Thromb Hemost 2003;29(5):435–450 598 662 2 Rodgers RP, Levin J. A critical reappraisal of the bleeding time. Semin Thromb Hemost 1990;16(1):1–20 497 583 3 Kundu SK, Heilmann EJ, Sio R, Garcia C, Davidson RM, Ostgaard RA. Description of an in vitro platelet function analyzer–PFA-100. Semin Thromb Hemost 1995;21(suppl 2):106–112 411 467 4 Mammen EF, Comp PC, Gosselin R, et al. PFA-100 system: a new method for assessment of platelet dysfunction. Semin Thromb Hemost 1998;24(2):195–202 352 400 5 Linhardt RJ, Gunay NS. Production and chemical processing of low molecular weight heparins. Semin Thromb Hemost 1999;25(suppl 3):5–16 322 353 6 Jurk K, Kehrel BE. Platelets: physiology and biochemistry. Semin Thromb Hemost 2005;31(4):381–392 299 318 7 Boccardo P, Remuzzi G, Galbusera M. Platelet dysfunction in renal failure. Semin Thromb Hemost 2004;30(5):579–589 283 312 8 Hellgren M. Hemostasis during normal pregnancy and puerperium. Semin Thromb Hemost 2003;29(2):125–130 256 298 9 Savi P, Herbert JM. Clopidogrel and ticlopidine: P2Y12 adenosine diphosphate-receptor antagonists for the prevention of atherothrombosis. Semin Thromb Hemost 2005;31(2):174–183 251 293 10 Finkelstein JD. Pathways and regulation of homocysteine metabolism in mammals. Semin Thromb Hemost 2000;26(3):219–225 250 280 11 Mammen EF, Koets MH, Washington BC, et al. Hemostasis changes during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Semin Thromb Hemost 1985;11(3):281–292 248 289 12 Tschoepe D, Roesen P, Esser J, et al. Large platelets circulate in an activated state in diabetes mellitus. Semin Thromb Hemost 1991;17(4):433–438 241 234 13 Jänicke F, Schmitt M, Graeff H. Clinical relevance of the urokinase-type and tissue-type plasminogen activators and of their type 1 inhibitor in breast cancer. Semin Thromb Hemost 1991;17(3):303–312 241 246 14 Caprini JA, Arcelus JI, Hasty JH, Tamhane AC, Fabrega F. Clinical assessment of venous thromboembolic risk in surgical patients. Semin Thromb Hemost 1991;17(suppl 3):304–312 240 266 15 Nagy JA, Chang SH, Shih SC, Dvorak AM, Dvorak HF. Heterogeneity of the tumor vasculature. Semin Thromb Hemost 2010;36(3):321–331 233 246 16 Schrör K. Aspirin and platelets: the antiplatelet action of aspirin and its role in thrombosis treatment and prophylaxis. Semin Thromb Hemost 1997;23(4):349–356 230 267 17 Fenton JW II. Regulation of thrombin generation and functions. Semin Thromb Hemost 1988;14(3):234–240 230 177 18 Sierko E, Wojtukiewicz MZ. Platelets and angiogenesis in malignancy. Semin Thromb Hemost 2004;30(1):95–108 221 242 19 van Giezen JJ, Humphries RG. Preclinical and clinical studies with selective reversible direct P2Y12 antagonists. Semin Thromb Hemost 2005;31(2):195–204 219 247 20 Niitsu Y, Jakubowski JA, Sugidachi A, Asai F. Pharmacology of CS-747 (prasugrel, LY640315), a novel, potent antiplatelet agent with in vivo P2Y12 receptor antagonist activity. Semin Thromb Hemost 2005;31(2):184–194 212 248 21 Savcic M, Hauert J, Bachmann F, Wyld PJ, Geudelin B, Cariou R. Clopidogrel loading dose regimens: kinetic profile of pharmacodynamic response in healthy subjects. Semin Thromb Hemost 1999;25(suppl 2):15–19 208 249 22 Favaloro EJ. Clinical utility of the PFA-100. Semin Thromb Hemost 2008;34(8):709–733 206 232 23 Rak J. Microparticles in cancer. Semin Thromb Hemost 2010;36(8):888–906 201 216 24 Østerud B, Bjørklid E. Sources of tissue factor. Semin Thromb Hemost 2006;32(1):11–23 197 206 25 Esmon CT. Inflammation and the activated protein C anticoagulant pathway. Semin Thromb Hemost 2006;32(suppl 1):49–60 196 209 26 Vervloet MG, Thijs LG, Hack CE. Derangements of coagulation and fibrinolysis in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock. Semin Thromb Hemost 1998;24(1):33–44 196 255 27 Bachmann F, Kruithof IE. Tissue plasminogen activator: chemical and physiological aspects. Semin Thromb Hemost 1984;10(1):6–17 196 143 28 Falanga A, Rickles FR. Pathophysiology of the thrombophilic state in the cancer patient. Semin Thromb Hemost 1999;25(2):173–182 190 247 29 Bick RL. Coagulation abnormalities in malignancy: a review. Semin Thromb Hemost 1992;18(4):353–372 188 222 30 Walker FJ. Protein S and the regulation of activated protein C. Semin Thromb Hemost 1984;10(2):131–138 181 118 a Top 30 cited papers from STH (using citation data from Web of Science). b Citation data from Web of Science. c Citation data from Scopus. In a contemporary search of PubMed, Eberhard Mammen is only listed as having a total of 16 publications in STH, but this is in error. Indeed, one of the PubMed publications is noted to have a title of “Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis,” and a search of this entry on the Publisher website ( https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/issue/10.1055/s-002-7899 ) actually shows that Eberhard was responsible for almost the entire content of the January, 1983, issue of STH, writing on a wide variety of factor abnormalities or deficiencies, separately including factors I (fibrinogen), II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XIII, and several fibrinolytic markers.[ 11 ] During his career, Eberhard published over 100 papers in the scientific and medical literature. These were published on a wide variety of thrombosis and hemostasis topics. In addition to VWD and the PFA, fibrinogen was another of his favorites, as was the prothrombotic condition “Sticky platelet syndrome,”[ 12 ] [ 13 ] which many workers in the field of thrombosis and hemostasis have skepticism that it even exists.[ 14 ] Perhaps also fitting in terms of historical context is that Eberhard's final publications in STH comprise two prefaces[ 15 ] [ 16 ] that he wrote to head two issues of the journal that I guest edited in 2006, these issues being only the second and third that I had guest edited for the journal by that time. I have already mentioned that VWD, in particular, its laboratory diagnosis or exclusion, is one of my favorite topics! I suspect it was our shared passions and interests that helped identify me as the successive EIC of STH post Eberhard's departure. Of course, a journal is much more than the contributions of its EICs, past and present. As mentioned, at the time of writing, STH has published over 3,500 papers, certainly not as many as the journal “Thrombosis and Haemostasis” (“T&H”; 14,348 results in PubMed from 1976), currently a “sister” journal to STH ( https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/issue/10.1055/s-012-53835 ), which actually started life in 1957, and for a time was the official journal of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH); not even as many papers as the journal “Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (“JTH”; 7,780 results in PubMed from 2003),” and currently the official journal of the ISTH. And yet, those 3,500 or so papers published by STH have certainly found a home in many of our offices, or these days in many of our computers. STH has published a huge variety of topics related to the broad field of thrombosis and hemostasis, but it publishes primarily review papers. This is in contrast to most other thrombosis and hemostasis journals, which tend to primarily publish original studies. Thus, STH stands separate to most other thrombosis and hemostasis journals, which was undoubtedly the original vision of Eberhard Mammen. Another point of difference is that STH has in the past tended to solely publish “themed” issues, with each issue being related to a separate topic within the field of thrombosis and hemostasis. Some examples over recent years are shown in [ Table 2 ].[ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 ] Of course, since online activity has overtaken print usage, the collation of highly specific themes perhaps becomes less imperative, and so STH now also collates issues with broader themes around thrombosis,[ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] and laboratory diagnostics and bleeding,[ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] [ 33 ] [ 34 ] [ 35 ] as well as material related to COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019).[ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 38 ] Table 2 A list of recent themed issues from Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis 1. Hvas CL, Kwaan HC, Hvas AM. Hemostasis and neuroscience-hemostasis and fibrinolysis involved in brain pathology and brain disorders. Semin Thromb Hemost 2022;48(3):274–276 2. Franchini M, Tufano A, Coppola A. Cardiovascular and thromboembolic diseases in oncology: novel aspects and revisited issues. Semin Thromb Hemost 2021;47(8):896–898 3. Larsen JB, Lisman T, Hvas AM. Altered fibrinolysis-clinical impact and diagnostic challenges. Semin Thromb Hemost 2021;47(5):477–479 4. Nadir Y, Lisman T. Hemostatic and nonhemostatic effects of heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Semin Thromb Hemost 2021;47(3):238–239 5. Preston RJS, O'Sullivan JM. Personalized approaches to the treatment of hemostatic disorders. Semin Thromb Hemost 2021;47(2):117–119 6. Lisman T, Intagliata NM. Bleeding and thrombosis in patients with liver diseases. Semin Thromb Hemost 2020;46(6):653–655 7. Hagemeyer CE, Lisman T, Kwaan HC. Nanomedicine in thrombosis and hemostasis: the future of nanotechnology in thrombosis and hemostasis research and clinical applications. Semin Thromb Hemost 2020;46(5):521–523 8. Hvas AM, Larsen JB, Pasalic L. Acquired platelet dysfunction-laboratory and clinical implications. Semin Thromb Hemost 2020;46(3):235–237 9. Moore HB, Walsh M, Kwaan HC, Medcalf RL. The complexity of trauma-induced coagulopathy. Semin Thromb Hemost 2020;46(2):114–115 10.1055/s-0040-1702202 10. Hunt BJ, Levy JH. Perioperative thrombosis and hemostasis. Semin Thromb Hemost 2020;46(1):6–7 It is unlikely that I will lead the production of another 3,500 papers in STH, but in the interim, let us celebrate the first 50 years of STH, and its place in the field. The 2021 Journal Impact Factor was recently released, and STH achieved its highest ever Impact Factor of 6.398, a fitting tribute to Eberhard Mammen's vision. I also wonder how many clinicians and scientists it has helped to develop over these years. I am certainly one of them. Finally, if you have a copy of the inaugural 1974 issue of STH, or any interesting stories around how STH has helped you in your practice or in your career, or indeed any stories related to Eberhard Mammen, we would love to hear from you, and will likely feature the most interesting ones in one of our future historical issues! Publication History Article published online: 15 September 2022 © 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved. Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. 333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA