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The Croatian Society of Medical Biochemists and Slovenian
Association for Clinical Chemistry, together with the Forum of the
European Societies of Clinical Chemistry, IFCC Europe have
organized the second in a series of postgraduate weekend courses,
at the Inter-University Centre Dubrovnik, promoting continuous
postgraduate education of experts in clinical chemistry and
laboratory medicine, and ensuring the laboratory knowledge and
harmonization, this time on human heart in particular.
Cardiovascular diseases have become the major cause of death and
disability after age 35. Renowned experts from European countries
have participated in this specialized course entitled �New Trends
in Classification and Management of Cardiovascular Disease�
covering the clinical and laboratory aspects of cardiovascular
diseases,
The Course program was divided into three sections.
- The first section was devoted to the basic concepts of
cardiovascular diseases. The presented topics of pathophysiology
and classification of cardiovascular diseases, atherothrombosis,
and inflammation in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and unstable
coronary disease, as well as genetic predictors of coronary heart
disease are tightly related to the latest concepts on
cardiovascular disease.
- The second section was focused on cardiac risk assessment. The
leading scientists in the field reported on the role of lipids in
the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, i.e.
guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment; the present and the
future in evaluation of risk markers for acute myocardial
infarction and heart failure; hypertension and coronary heart
disease; diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease; the role of
pharmacogenetics in the management of cardiovascular disease;
natriuretic peptides in assessment of ventricular dysfunction; and
clinical experiences in the treatment of lipid disorders in
cardiovascular patients.
- The last section was devoted to the standardization and quality
assessment of biochemical markers of cardiac damage. The experts in
the field reviewed the rational diagnosis of cardiovascular
disease, IFCC proposal for recommendations on the use of
biochemical markers in acute coronary syndrome, and strategy of
prevention of cardiovascular disease. At the end of this section,
the training introducing POCT technology for the diagnosis and
monitoring of acute coronary syndrome was organized allowing the
participants to master the technique.
We do hope that the Course program has fulfilled its goals by
presenting state-of-the-art facts about the conditions and by
contributing to harmonization of the classification, monitoring and
management of cardiovascular disease.
Professor Elizabeta Topić
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