Efthimia Melissari HEMATOLOGIST

• Shortening of Bleeding Time and Increase of Factor VIII related activities after insulin induced hypoglycemia in patients with von Willebrand disease. University of Athens, School of Medicine Dec. 1981.

• British Medical Association
•  British Society for Haemostasis and Thrombosis
• Associate Member of the Royal College of Pathologists
• British Journal of Haematology.
  • Thrombosis Research.
  • Artificial Organs
  • Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis
  • Hematology Pathology
  • Hema

Education Experience

• 1981 – 1983: Senior Research Fellow at King’s College Hospital, School of Medicine and Dentistry of London Thrombosis Research Unit/Thrombosis Research Institute.
• 1983 – 1986: Lecturer at King’s College Hospital, School of Medicine and Dentistry. London UK.
• 1986- 1994: Senior Lecturer at King’s College Hospital, School of Medicine and Dentistry. London UK.
• Oct 1994-Jan 2016: Director of Haematology-Haemostasis and Blood Bank Transfusion Department of Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
• Sep 2016-Present: Head of Blood Bank of Hygeia Hospital

Patent Application:

Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Melissari E, Fatseas P: Patent Application No. 10036362/8/2001 [Int. CI: A61 K35778] titled: “A potent anticoagulant and antiplatelet substance for the prophylaxis and treatment of ischaemic cardiovascular disorders”.

Awards

PhD Supervisor:

1. Lindo (Biochemist 1989-1994, King’s College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London UK) “New aspects of the pathophysiological role of antithrombin and the development of thrombosis”
2. Pemberton (Cell Biologist 1989-1994, King’s College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London UK) “ The role of the vascular endothelium biology and breast cancer”
3. Fatseas (Chemist 1996-2001, Chemistry Department, University of Patras, Greece) (co-supervisor)” Structure and activity of the non-peptide mimics of the SFLLR of thrombin receptor”

 MField Thesis co-Supervisor    

1. Kounavi (Chemist) 2004 – 2008, “ Thrombocytopenia due to heparin administration” Chemistry, University of Athens, Greece.
2. A.Angelidis (Haematologist),” Blood transfusion and the presence of red blood cells antigens during heart surgery” 2011-2014University of Athens, Medical School 2014

Clinical Interest:

• Thromboembolic disorders, prevention-treatment.
• Poor outcome of pregnancy due to haemostatic alterations or thromboembolic tendency, prevention-treatment.
• Transfusion medicine

Research Interest: 

• Pathology of spontaneous and posttraumatic thromboembolic tendency. Haemostatic changes observed perioperatively.
• The influence of unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparins on the Haemostatic changes during surgical trauma.
• Congenital thrombophilia and recognition of novel types of Protein C deficeincy as well as Antithrombin III deficiency.
• Recurrent miscariages due to thrombosis and its anticipation with LMW heparins (the first study showing that when Fragmin was given throughout the gestation, a successful outcome was achieved in patients suffering thromboembolic tendency after approving that Fragmin does not cross the placental barrier).
• Oestrogen predisposing towards thrombosis (due to consumption of natural In vivo anticoagulants -free protein S- at levels causing thromboembolism).
• Development and clinical establishment of the successful use of prostanoids (iloprost) in patients undergoing heart surgery suffering heparin induced thrombocytopenia/thrombosis.
• Human red cells having receptors for heparin but not for heparin fractions or heparinoids and its consequences regarding bleeding diathesis.
• Prevention-treatment of idiopathic and congenital thrombophilia.
• Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia type II.
• Haemostatic alterations during an open-heart surgery and heart transplantation peri-operatively and shortly afterwards.
• Screening and pre-clinical documentation of the pharmacokinetics of a number of new antithrombotic drugs.
• Diagnosis and treatment of thromboembolic disorders.
• Evaluating both thrombolytic and antithrombotic agents in the management of arterial thrombosis.
• Prevention of restenosis following a successful primary coronary angioplasty using classical and new antiplatelet agents in association with heparin or LMWH.
• Prevention of breast cancer metastasis using anti-oestrogen agents.
• The efficacy of the bioline surface-heparinized extracorporeal perfusion circuit.
• Prevention of arterial thrombosis using LMWH combined with antiplatelet treatment in patients undergoing aortofemoral graft surgery due to atherosclerotic disease.

• Books-(Chapters): 5
• Invited Lecturer: 29
• ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS TO PEER REVIEW JOURNALS : 101 (48 PAPERS)
• CITATION INDEX : 842.
• AVERAGE CITATIONS PER ITEM : 20,54
• H – INDEX       : 16.
• BOOK REVIEW: 1

1. Acute intraoperative heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and thrombosis during coronary artery bypass grafting: Two case reports providing evidence for the role of preoperative LMWH in triggering sensitization.Khoury M, Pitsis A, Poumpouridou-Kioura H, Soufla G, Kanthou C, Matoula N, Angelidis A, Melissari E.Thromb Res. 2016 Oct;146:126-130
2. Trans-aortic endoscopic ventricular thrombectomy in a patient with HIT and concomi-tant Aortic and ventricular thromboses.Stavridis GT, Vasili M, Ashrafian H, Athanasiou T, Melissari E, Manginas A.Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2016 Oct;64(10):621-4.
3. Perioperative use of iloprost in cardiac surgery patients diagnosed with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia-reactive antibodies or with true HIT (HIT-reactive antibodies plus thrombocytopenia): An 11-year experience.Palatianos G, Michalis A, Alivizatos P, Lacoumenda S, Geroulanos S, Karabinis A, Iliopoulou E, Soufla G, Kanthou C, Khoury M, Sfyrakis P, Stavridis G, Astras G, Vassili M, Antzaka C, Marathias K, Kriaras I, Tasouli A, Papadopoulos K, Katafygioti M, Matoula N, Angelidis A, Melissari E.Am J Hematol. 2015 Jul;90(7):608-17.
4. Decreased annexin A5 mRNA placental expression in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction.Sifakis S, Soufla G, Koukoura O, Soulitzis N, Koutroulakis D, Maiz N, Konstantinidou A, Melissari E, Spandidos DA.Thromb Res. 2010 Apr;125(4):326-31.
5. Heart transplantation in a low-organ-donation environment: a single center experience.Gkouziouta A, Adamopoulos S, Manginas A, Karavolias GK, Leontiadis E, Tsourelis L, Zarkalis D, Loukas L, Stavridis G, Antoniou T, Degiannis D, Melissari E, Kaklamanis L, Saroglou G, Sfirakis P, Alivizatos P.Transplant Proc. 2009 Dec;41(10):4289-93.
6. Development of a real-time PCR detection method for a FCGR2A polymorphism in the LightCycler and application in the heparin-induced thrombocytopenia syndrome.Kroupis C, Theodorou M, Kounavi M, Oliveira SC, Iliopoulou E, Mavri-Vavayanni M, Melissari EN, Degiannis D.Clin Biochem. 2009 Nov;42(16-17):1685-93.