Frans VandeWerf talks with
ScienceWatch.com and answers a few questions about
this month's New Hot Paper in the field of Clinical
Medicine.
Article Title: Management of acute myocardial
infarction in patients presenting with persistent ST-segment
elevation
Authors: Van de Werf, F., et al.
Journal: EUR HEART J, Volume: 29, Issue: 23, Page: 2909-2945,
Year: DEC 2008
Addresses: Department of Cardiology, University Hospitals
Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
It provides guidelines on the management of acute myocardial infarction as
outlined by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Acute myocardial
infarction can be defined from a number of different perspectives related
to clinical, electrocardiographic (ECG), biochemical, and pathological
characteristics.
Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or
synthesis of knowledge?
It's an official guidelines document of the European Society of Cardiology.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper
in layman's terms?
It contains recommendations for the management of patients who have
suffered an acute heart attack.
How did you become involved in this research, and
were there any problems along the way?
It came about via my work on thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction.
Where do you see your research leading in the
future?
As head of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of
Leuven, Belgium, I intend to remain quite active in an advisory capacity as
a member of various scientific bodies examining new developments in the
treatment of acute myocardial infarction.
Do you foresee any social or political
implications for your research?
I hope to help define future guidelines which will lead to the better
overall treatment of patients who suffer an acute myocardial infarction.
Professor Frans Van de Werf, M.D.
Chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine
University Hospital Gasthuisberg
Leuven, Belgium