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!
