WhatsAppDiagnosis and Treatment of Blood Disorders and Blood Cancers
Hematology is the subspecialty of internal medicine covering the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant diseases that affect the blood cells (red cells, white cells and platelets) and the coagulation system. The department provides care across a wide clinical spectrum, from the various types of anaemia to leukaemia and lymphoma, and from coagulation disorders to bone marrow diseases. While applying chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy protocols, the Academic Hospital Hematology Department works in coordination with the Bone Marrow Transplantation unit where required.
Contents
What Is Hematology?
Hematology is the medical specialty that studies, diagnoses and treats diseases of the blood and the blood-forming organs, including the bone marrow in which blood is produced. Hematology specialists work across a broad area of clinical responsibility, from interpreting the full blood count to performing bone marrow biopsies, and from administering intravenous chemotherapy to long-term disease management. The department focuses on both benign conditions (anaemia, thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders) and malignant ones (leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma).
Which Diseases and Conditions Are Treated?
The hematology department covers a broad group of diseases affecting the blood and the bone marrow.
Anaemias
- Iron deficiency anaemia
- Megaloblastic anaemia due to vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency
- Haemolytic anaemias (autoimmune, hereditary spherocytosis, G6PD deficiency)
- Aplastic anaemia (bone marrow failure)
- Sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia
Blood Cancers
- Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
- Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma and plasma cell disorders
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms
Coagulation and Bleeding Disorders
- Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
- Haemophilia A and B
- Von Willebrand disease
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism
- Inherited thrombophilias (factor V Leiden, protein C/S deficiency)
When Should You Consult a Specialist?
The following symptoms may point to a haematological problem and require specialist assessment.
- Persistent tiredness, weakness and a pale complexion
- Unexplained enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin
- Bruising under the skin, pinpoint red spots (petechiae) or bleeding that is slow to stop
- Night sweats, fever and unexplained weight loss
- Rapid palpitations and shortness of breath together with marked pallor
- Nosebleeds that do not stop for a long time, or excessive bleeding after a tooth extraction
- Unexpected anaemia, leucocytosis (a high white cell count) or a low platelet count on a blood test
- Joint swelling and pain accompanied by a bleeding tendency (suspected haemophilia)
Situations requiring emergency care: Go to the emergency department immediately in case of high fever with a severely low white cell count (neutropenia), signs of major internal bleeding, sudden shortness of breath together with a low platelet count, or complications of severe anaemia.
Diagnostic Methods
In the hematology department the diagnosis is established through blood analyses, bone marrow examination and molecular tests.
| Method | What it is used for |
|---|---|
| Assessment of the number and morphology of red cells, white cells and platelets; the first step in the diagnosis of leukaemia and anaemia. | |
| Microscopic examination of bone marrow samples taken from the iliac bone with a fine needle; essential in the diagnosis of leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and aplastic anaemia. | |
| Detection of abnormal cell types in blood or bone marrow samples by immunophenotyping; used to determine the subtypes of leukaemia and lymphoma. | |
| Detection, by chromosome analysis (karyotyping), FISH and PCR, of the genetic changes that determine the type and prognosis of a leukaemia (such as BCR-ABL, FLT3 and NPM1). | |
| Diagnosis of haemophilia and thrombophilia using PT, aPTT, fibrinogen, D-dimer and factor levels. | |
| Detection of the abnormal protein (M protein) in multiple myeloma. | |
| Assessment of disease extent and treatment response in lymphoma and leukaemia. | |
| Detection, by next-generation sequencing, of the mutations that influence the treatment decision. |
Treatment Approaches
In the hematology department, treatment protocols are individualised according to the type and stage of the disease and the patient's general condition.
| Treatment | Scope and application |
|---|---|
| Intravenous or oral drug combinations in the treatment of leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma; the type of protocol is determined by the diagnosis and the genetic profile. | |
| Tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as imatinib and dasatinib in CML; FLT3 or IDH inhibitors in AML. These drugs act on a specific molecular target and therefore cause less damage to healthy cells. | |
| Rituximab and obinutuzumab in lymphoma and CLL; daratumumab in myeloma; bispecific antibodies such as blinatumomab in certain leukaemias. | |
| Applied as supportive treatment in severe anaemia and in low platelet counts. | |
| Low molecular weight heparin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for the treatment and prophylaxis of thrombosis (blood clots). | |
| Ciclosporin, corticosteroid and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) treatments in aplastic anaemia and autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. | |
| Oral or intravenous iron in iron deficiency anaemia; vitamin support in B12 and folic acid deficiency. | |
| Transplant planning in high-risk leukaemia, lymphoma and aplastic anaemia, carried out together with the Bone Marrow Transplantation unit. |
Book an appointment with the Hematology Department.
Book an AppointmentHematology at Academic Hospital
The Academic Hospital Hematology Department carries out outpatient assessment, day-case chemotherapy and inpatient follow-up under one roof; bone marrow aspiration and biopsy procedures are performed within the hospital. The department works routinely with the following units:
- Medical Oncology: joint management of cases involving both lymphoma and solid tumours
- Pathology: histopathological assessment of bone marrow and lymph node biopsies
- Internal Medicine: initial assessment, anaemia screening and referral
- Biochemistry: processing of full blood count, coagulation and protein electrophoresis tests
- Infectious Diseases: management of neutropenic fever and treatment-related infections
- Radiology: staging and treatment response assessment with PET-CT and computed tomography
- Gynecology and Obstetrics: joint follow-up of anaemia and coagulation disorders in pregnancy
Frequently Asked Questions
References
The general information given on this page about blood disorders, diagnostic methods and treatment approaches is supported by the reliable health sources listed below.
- American Society of Hematology (ASH), "Hematology Guidelines", hematology.org
- European Hematology Association (EHA), "EHA Clinical Practice Guidelines", ehaweb.org
- National Cancer Institute (NIH), "Hematologic Cancers", cancer.gov
The information on this page is for informational purposes only; it does not replace medical examination, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a healthcare institution regarding your complaints.
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