Educational Manual [antikvár]

Programmes of international congresses of haematology and blood transfusion dramatically illustrate the sharp increase in basic scientific information on disease mechanisms, on new diagnostic techniques, on new principles and methods of management of blood diseases, as well as on new methods for processing blood components and plasma derivatives. Despite their obvious clinical importance, molecular biology of congenital diseases, structural, cytogenetic and immunological differential diagnostics of malignant haematological diseases, new advances in coagulation, in blood group serology and immunology remain for most physicians difficult areas to comprehend. The increasing sophistication of investigative methods led to the emergence of new subspecialists like blood group serologists, immunohaematologists, coagulationists, cryobiologists, haematological oncologists and, quite recently, plasma- and cellapheresis experts. This atomization of haematology and blood transfusion leaves less and less experts able to follow the recent advances within the whole spectrum of their originál disciplines. Although highly specialized experts are invaluable in consulting colleagues about diagnostics and management of patients it is of utmost importance that physicians feel comfortable with recent advances and not rely solely on consultants. For this reason, pre-congress educational sessions became increasingly popular. In the present educational programme, teams of distinguished experts in various aspects of haematology and blood transfusion were asked to present a series of lectures and discussions summarizing the state of the art in selected fields of these two disciplines. The principle in selecting the topics was based primarily on the practical importance of the respective field. This manual provides a syllabus of these teaching sessions. As a multi-authored book the style of presentations varies greatly. Somé chapters are too concise and/or incomplete. Somé are extensively referenced, while authors of other chapters have omitted to give references. Most of the contributions represent the personal experiences of leading investigators and this gives the real flavour to this educational programme. I wish to express my deep appreciation to all contributors of this manual, to the chairmen of the teaching sessions and their invited speakers for their participation in this programme. The publication of this manual has been made possible by the generous financial support of Travenol Laboratories to whom I express my sincere appreciation. / SUSAN R. HOLLÁN, M. D. President of the Joint Congress of the International Society of Haematology and the International Society of Blood Transfusion