Cardiovascular conditions such as strokes or heart attacks are among the most common causes of death in Germany. Today, treatment and prevention are primarily based on so-called platelet aggregation inhibitors and anticoagulants—types of medication commonly referred to as blood thinners. They inhibit or prevent blood coagulation, which in turn prevents the formation of blood clots and life-threatening medical emergencies such as strokes or heart attacks. However, by intervening directly in the hemostasis process, they increase the risk of dangerous bleeding.

In a study published in the journal Science Advances, researchers led by Dr. Marcel Benkhoff (Department of Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology at the UKD) have mapped a novel therapy approach that utilizes the body’s own mechanisms. The study focused on two substances produced by the body: sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and thrombomodulin ™.