Re: Bloodcurdling movies and measures of coagulation: Fear Factor crossover trial
The research article findings that fear may cause increased factor VIII levels without thrombus formation has some important applications [1]. The results of the study could be translated to people with chronic fear or to people with chronic social phobia. Chronic fear in these groups in the light of the present study could possibly cause increased factor VIII levels in their blood which chronically may lead to thrombus formation resulting in the occurrence of stroke, venous thrombosis and cardiovascular diseases [2,3,4].
The results of this study stimulate further research directed on the question whether bloodcurdling phenomenon occurs in people with chronic fear also and whether it is associated with increased thrombus formation.
References
1. Nemeth B, Scheres LJ, Lijfering WM. Bloodcurdling movies and measures of coagulation: Fear Factor crossover trial. BMJ 2015;351:h6367.
2. Kamphuisen PW, Eikenboom JC, Bertina RM. Elevated Factor VIII Levels and the Risk of Thrombosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2001;21(5):731-8.
3. Jenkins PV, Rawley O, Smith OP, O'Donnell JS. Elevated factor VIII levels and risk of venous thrombosis. Br J Haematol. 2012;157(6):653-63.
4. Lasek-Bal A, Puz P, Kazibutowska Z. Elevated factor VIII level and stroke in patients without traditional risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2013;9:847-52.
Competing interests:
No competing interests
17 December 2015
Vagish Kumar L Shanbhag
Reader
Department of Oral medicine and radiology, Yenepoya Dental College and Hospital*, Yenepoya Research Centre*, Yenepoya University
Rapid Response:
Re: Bloodcurdling movies and measures of coagulation: Fear Factor crossover trial
The research article findings that fear may cause increased factor VIII levels without thrombus formation has some important applications [1]. The results of the study could be translated to people with chronic fear or to people with chronic social phobia. Chronic fear in these groups in the light of the present study could possibly cause increased factor VIII levels in their blood which chronically may lead to thrombus formation resulting in the occurrence of stroke, venous thrombosis and cardiovascular diseases [2,3,4].
The results of this study stimulate further research directed on the question whether bloodcurdling phenomenon occurs in people with chronic fear also and whether it is associated with increased thrombus formation.
References
1. Nemeth B, Scheres LJ, Lijfering WM. Bloodcurdling movies and measures of coagulation: Fear Factor crossover trial. BMJ 2015;351:h6367.
2. Kamphuisen PW, Eikenboom JC, Bertina RM. Elevated Factor VIII Levels and the Risk of Thrombosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2001;21(5):731-8.
3. Jenkins PV, Rawley O, Smith OP, O'Donnell JS. Elevated factor VIII levels and risk of venous thrombosis. Br J Haematol. 2012;157(6):653-63.
4. Lasek-Bal A, Puz P, Kazibutowska Z. Elevated factor VIII level and stroke in patients without traditional risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2013;9:847-52.
Competing interests: No competing interests