John G. Kelton

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John G. Kelton, M.D., FRCPC, C.M., is a Canadian hematologist and the former Dean of the McMaster University Medical School, as well as the Dean and Vice-President of the McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences. [1] He concluded his 15-year term in June 2016 and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Michael G. DeGroote Initiative for Innovation in Healthcare at McMaster University in Hamilton. Dr. Kelton is recognized as an expert in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and is renowned for developing a diagnostic test for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in 1986. [2] [3]

Contents

Education

Kelton graduated medicine cum laude from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario in 1973. [1] Following graduation he trained in internal medicine and hematology at McMaster University and Duke University School of Medicine. In 1977, he was recruited to McMaster. In 2001, he was made the Dean and Vice-President of the faculty of Health Sciences and the Dean of the medical school. [1]

Career

Kelton is the author of five books, more than eighty book chapters and more than three hundred publications including over fifteen in the New England Journal of Medicine. [1] In 1996, he published a landmark randomized control trial that showed that heparin-induced thrombocytopenia was significantly more common after unfractionated heparin compared to low molecular weight heparin. [4]

Awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anticoagulant</span> Class of drugs

An anticoagulant, commonly known as a blood thinner, is a chemical substance that prevents or reduces coagulation of blood, prolonging the clotting time. Some of them occur naturally in blood-eating animals such as leeches and mosquitoes, where they help keep the bite area unclotted long enough for the animal to obtain some blood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heparin</span> Anticoagulant

Heparin, also known as unfractionated heparin (UFH), is a medication and naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan. Heparin is a blood anticoagulant that increases the activity of antithrombin. It is used in the treatment of heart attacks and unstable angina. It can be given intravenously or by injection under the skin. Its anticoagulant properties make it useful to prevent blood clotting in blood specimen test tubes and kidney dialysis machines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thrombocytopenia</span> Abnormally low levels of platelets in the blood

In hematology, thrombocytopenia is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of platelets in the blood. Low levels of platelets in turn may lead to prolonged or excessive bleeding. It is the most common coagulation disorder among intensive care patients and is seen in a fifth of medical patients and a third of surgical patients.

Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is a class of anticoagulant medications. They are used in the prevention of blood clots and treatment of venous thromboembolism and in the treatment of myocardial infarction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia</span> Low platelet count due to heparin, associated with a risk of thrombosis

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is the development of thrombocytopenia, due to the administration of various forms of heparin, an anticoagulant. HIT predisposes to thrombosis. When thrombosis is identified the condition is called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (HITT). HIT is caused by the formation of abnormal antibodies that activate platelets, which release microparticles that activate thrombin, leading to thrombosis. If someone receiving heparin develops new or worsening thrombosis, or if the platelet count falls, HIT can be confirmed with specific blood tests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemolytic disease of the newborn</span> Fetal and neonatal alloimmune blood condition

Hemolytic disease of the newborn, also known as hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, HDN, HDFN, or erythroblastosis fetalis, is an alloimmune condition that develops in a fetus at or around birth, when the IgG molecules produced by the mother pass through the placenta. Among these antibodies are some which attack antigens on the red blood cells in the fetal circulation, breaking down and destroying the cells. The fetus can develop reticulocytosis and anemia. The intensity of this fetal disease ranges from mild to very severe, and fetal death from heart failure can occur. When the disease is moderate or severe, many erythroblasts are present in the fetal blood, earning these forms of the disease the name erythroblastosis fetalis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enoxaparin sodium</span> Anticoagulant medication (blood thinner)

Enoxaparin sodium, sold under the brand name Lovenox among others, is an anticoagulant medication. It is used to treat and prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) including during pregnancy and following certain types of surgery. It is also used in those with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and heart attacks. It is given by injection just under the skin or into a vein. It is also used during hemodialysis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fondaparinux</span> Chemical compound

Fondaparinux is an anticoagulant medication chemically related to low molecular weight heparins. It is marketed by Viatris. A generic version developed by Alchemia is marketed within the US by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry</span> Medical and dental school of the University of Western Ontario

The Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry is the combined medical school and dental school of the University of Western Ontario, a public university in London, Ontario, Canada

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dalteparin sodium</span> Pharmaceutical drug

Dalteparin is a low molecular weight heparin. It is marketed as Fragmin. Like other low molecular weight heparins, dalteparin is used for prophylaxis or treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism to reduce the risk of a stroke or heart attack. Dalteparin acts by potentiating the activity of antithrombin III, inhibiting formation of both Factor Xa and thrombin. It is normally administered by self-injection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eptifibatide</span> Antiplatelet drug

Eptifibatide, is an antiplatelet drug of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor class. Eptifibatide is a cyclic heptapeptide derived from a disintegrin protein found in the venom of the southeastern pygmy rattlesnake. It belongs to the class of the arginin-glycin-aspartat-mimetics and reversibly binds to platelets. Eptifibatide has a short half-life. The drug is the third inhibitor of GPIIb/IIIa that has found broad acceptance after the specific antibody abciximab and the non-peptide tirofiban entered the global market.

The Duke University School of Medicine, commonly known as Duke Med, is the medical school of Duke University. It is located in the Collegiate Gothic-style West Campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. The School of Medicine, along with the Duke University School of Nursing, Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Children's Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, and other affiliated hospitals, clinics, and laboratories, make up the Duke University Health System. Established in 1925 by James B. Duke, the School of Medicine has earned its reputation as an integral part of one of the world's foremost patient care and biomedical research institutions.

Hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-Rhc) can range from a mild to a severe disease. It is the third most common cause of severe HDN. Rh disease is the most common and hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-Kell) is the second most common cause of severe HDN. It occurs more commonly in women who are Rh D negative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platelet factor 4</span> Protein involved in blood clotting, wound healing and inflammation

Platelet factor 4 (PF4) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also known as chemokine ligand 4 (CXCL4). This chemokine is released from alpha-granules of activated platelets during platelet aggregation, and promotes blood coagulation by moderating the effects of heparin-like molecules. Due to these roles, it is predicted to play a role in wound repair and inflammation. It is usually found in a complex with proteoglycan.

Hypercoagulability in pregnancy is the propensity of pregnant women to develop thrombosis. Pregnancy itself is a factor of hypercoagulability, as a physiologically adaptive mechanism to prevent post partum bleeding. However, when combined with an additional underlying hypercoagulable states, the risk of thrombosis or embolism may become substantial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bemiparin sodium</span> Chemical compound

Bemiparin is an antithrombotic and belongs to the group of low molecular weight heparins (LMWH).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine</span> Medical school of McMaster University in Ontario, Canada

The Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, known as the McMaster University School of Medicine prior to 2004, is the medical school of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It is operated by the McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences. It is one of two medical programs in Canada, along with the University of Calgary, that operates on an accelerated 3-year MD program, instead of the traditional 4-year MD program.

Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) are a class of anticoagulant drugs that can be used to prevent and treat embolisms and blood clots caused by various diseases. They inhibit thrombin, a serine protease which affects the coagulation cascade in many ways. DTIs have undergone rapid development since the 90's. With technological advances in genetic engineering the production of recombinant hirudin was made possible which opened the door to this new group of drugs. Before the use of DTIs the therapy and prophylaxis for anticoagulation had stayed the same for over 50 years with the use of heparin derivatives and warfarin which have some well known disadvantages. DTIs are still under development, but the research focus has shifted towards factor Xa inhibitors, or even dual thrombin and fXa inhibitors that have a broader mechanism of action by both inhibiting factor IIa (thrombin) and Xa. A recent review of patents and literature on thrombin inhibitors has demonstrated that the development of allosteric and multi-mechanism inhibitors might lead the way to a safer anticoagulant.

Jian Liu is a John & Deborah S. McNeill, Jr. Distinguished Professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also a founder and the chief scientific officer at Glycan Therapeutics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embolic and thrombotic events after COVID-19 vaccination</span> Post vaccination adverse effects

Post-vaccination embolic and thrombotic events, termed vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT), thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT), or vaccine-associated thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VATT), are rare types of blood clotting syndromes that were initially observed in a number of people who had previously received the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID‑19 vaccine (AZD1222) during the COVID‑19 pandemic. It was subsequently also described in the Janssen COVID‑19 vaccine, leading to the suspension of its use until its safety had been reassessed. On 5 May 2022 the FDA posted a bulletin limiting the use of the Janssen Vaccine to very specific cases due to further reassessment of the risks of TTS, although the FDA also stated in the same bulletin that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Biography of Dr. John G. Kelton". McMaster University. McMaster University. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  2. Kelton, John; Carter, C; Sheridan, D (1 January 1986). "A diagnostic test for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia". Blood. 67 (1): 27–30. doi: 10.1182/blood.V67.1.27.27 . PMID   3940551 . Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  3. "John Kelton". McMaster University. McMaster University. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  4. Warkentin, Theodore; Levine, Mark; Hirsch, Jack; Horsewood, Peter; Roberts, Robin S.; Gent, Michael; Kelton, John G. (18 May 1995). "Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Patients Treated with Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin or Unfractionated Heparin". NEJM. 332 (20): 1330–1336. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199505183322003 . PMID   7715641.
  5. "Hamilton's John Kelton, Michael Phillips named to Order of Canada". CBC. CBC. Retrieved 18 June 2015.