Ask Hematologist | Understand Hematology
Everything you need to know about blood disorders
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 […]
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Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder in which patients have autoantibodies to phospholipid-bound proteins (eg, beta2-glycoprotein I, prothrombin, annexin A5). The pathophysiology is not precisely known. Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is an important recognised cause of acquired treatable thrombophilia. It is characterised by the core clinical manifestations of thrombosis in both venous and arterial circulation resulting in recurrent thrombotic […]
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Tumor immunology describes the interaction between cells of the immune system with tumor cells. Understanding the role of the immune system in the progression and development of cancer is important for the development of new therapies for cancer treatment. Tumor Antigens: The question of whether human tumors express antigens that can be recognized by the immune system has been answered with a resounding […]
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What is Plasmapheresis? The word ‘plasmapheresis’ (meaning the withdrawal of plasma) was coined by Abel in 1914 to describe a process by which whole blood is withdrawn from the body and separated into its constitutive parts, the cells being returned to the body while the plasma is retained. Plasmapheresis is a procedure in which whole blood is taken from a […]
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Introduction: Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) or Hemophagocytosis is a rare but potentially fatal disease of normal but overactive histiocytes and lymphocytes that commonly appears in infancy, although it has been seen in all age groups. Hemophagocytosis involves a defect in targeted killing and the inhibitory controls of natural killer and cytotoxic T cells, resulting in excessive cytokine production and accumulation of […]
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An important part of the immune system is its ability to tell between normal cells in the body and those it sees as “foreign”. This lets the immune system attack the foreign cells while leaving the normal cells alone. Unfortunately, immune system doesn’t always recognize cancer as a threat. Immune system uses “checkpoints” – molecules on certain immune cells that need […]
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Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare disorder affecting 15% of patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). The disease is defined by the presence of cold agglutinins (autoantibodies which are active at temperatures below 30°C). Cold agglutinins cause red blood cells to clump together (agglutinate) at low temperatures. Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) occurs more frequently after the age of 55. Clinical […]
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Cryoglobulins are single or mixed immunoglobulins which precipitate when they are exposed to cold and dissolve when warmed. They may be present in small quantities in the blood of some healthy people but are most frequently associated with abnormal protein production in a variety of diseases and conditions. Precipitated cryoglobulins can slow the flow of blood and block small blood vessels. This should […]
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