Ask Hematologist | Understand Hematology

Hypereosinophilic Syndrome

October 10, 2021 Leave a comment

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a condition characterized by peripheral blood eosinophilia with manifestations of organ system involvement or dysfunction directly related to eosinophilia in the absence of parasitic, allergic, or other secondary causes of eosinophilia. Secondary eosinophilia is a cytokine-derived (interleukin-5 [IL-5]) reactive phenomenon. Worldwide, parasitic diseases are the most common cause, whereas, in developed countries, allergic diseases are the […]

Category: Leukemias

Vascular Bleeding Disorders

August 6, 2021 Leave a comment

Bleeding may result from abnormalities in Platelets Coagulation factors Blood vessels Vascular bleeding disorders result from defects in blood vessels, typically causing petechiae, purpura, and bruising but, except for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, seldom leading to serious blood loss. Bleeding may result from deficiencies of vascular and perivascular collagen in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and in other rare hereditary connective tissue disorders (e.g. […]

Category: Bleeding Disorders

CAR T-Cell Therapy

December 1, 2020 2 comments

T cells: To understand CAR T-cell therapy, it helps to understand what T cells do. White blood cells called lymphocytes play an important part in fighting infection and diseases, including cancer. There are different types of lymphocytes. T cells are one type. T cells move around the body to find and destroy defective cells. When you come into contact with a […]

Category: Cancer Therapy

Coronavirus and Blood

August 11, 2020 Leave a comment

Coronavirus and Blood: Does coronavirus have direct effects on Blood? The United States and countries around the world face a major public health concern with the current outbreak of the novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19). The emergence of the novel coronavirus outbreak in December 2019 was followed by its spread on a global scale unparalleled in the last 100 years. At […]

Category: Infections

Abnormal Hemoglobins

November 27, 2019 8 comments

Hemoglobin is a carrier for oxygen from the lungs to the various tissues and carbon dioxide from other parts of the body to the lungs. About 70% of the body’s iron is present in the red blood cells in the form of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-protein complex that gives red blood cells its red color. It is made up of […]

Category: Hemoglobinopathies

Approach to Lymphocytosis

October 31, 2019 12 comments

Diagnostic Approach to Lymphocytosis: Lymphocytes are white blood cells that serve primarily as the body’s adaptive immune system and provide humoral or cell-mediated immunity against a variety of bacterial, viral, or other pathogens. They are comprised mainly of T, B, and natural killer (NK) cells, and the body typically maintains the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in a range of fewer […]

Category: Lymphomas

Nutrition and Blood

September 29, 2019 38 comments

Nutrition and Blood: Are you feeling weak or fatigued? You may be experiencing symptoms of anemia. Anemia occurs when your red blood cell (RBC) count is low. If your RBC count is low, your body has to work harder to deliver oxygen throughout your body. RBCs are the most common cells in human blood. The body produces millions each day. RBCs […]

Category: Nutrition

Systemic Mastocytosis

August 31, 2019 3 comments

Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a form of mastocytosis in which mast cells accumulate in internal tissues and organs such as the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and small intestines. It is typically diagnosed in adults. Signs and symptoms vary based on which parts of the body are affected. To keep us healthy, mast cells protect our body from foreign threats, such as infections, and […]

Category: Immune System

Erythropoiesis Stimulating Medicines

July 31, 2019 Leave a comment

Erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) are man-made versions of Erythropoietin (EPO), which is a hormone (chemical messenger) produced naturally by the kidneys. Erythropoietin is produced to a lesser extent by the liver. Only about 10% of erythropoietin is produced in the liver. The erythropoietin gene has been found on human chromosome 7 (band 7q21). The role of erythropoietin is to stimulate the bone […]

Category: Drugs

Surgery and Hemostasis

June 30, 2019 5 comments

What is Hemostasis? Hemostasis is the process of how the body stops bleeding from a cut or injury. This involves forming a clot to close the hole in the blood vessel and repairing the blood vessel. When a blood vessel is injured, platelets stick together to form a plug. Proteins, called clotting factors, interact to form a fibrin mesh to […]

Category: Hemostasis

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