Everything you need to know about blood disorders
CD is an abbreviation for “cluster of differentiation”. CD molecules are cell surface markers which are very useful for the identification and characterization of leukocytes and the different subpopulations of leukocytes. The HLDA (Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens) workshop, which started in 1982, developed the CD nomenclature and has maintained the list of CD Markers ever since. The initial idea behind […]
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During the last two decades, we have witnessed the approval of numerous new hematology drugs and a complete transformation in how we approach blood cancers. A deeper understanding of the biology of specific hematologic malignancies has exposed numerous new therapeutic targets that were quickly followed by a plethora of novel therapeutic agents. The availability of novel drugs not only continues to […]
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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(meaning the withdrawal of plasma) was coined by Abel in 1914 to describe a process by which whole blood is withdrawn from the body and separated into its constitutive parts, the cells being returned to the body while the plasma is retained.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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Blood morphology adds greatly to the value of a routine blood count. A skillful examination of a well-made blood smear constitutes the most valuable single procedure in the hematology laboratory. In spite of normal blood count figures, careful observation of blood morphology suggested previously unsuspected disorders. For example, in some cases, the finding of hypersegmented neutrophils on the blood smear […]
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Positron emission tomography (PET) scans are used to produce detailed 3-dimensional images of the inside of the body. PET imaging in hematology has become a cornerstone procedure which is particularly helpful for investigating confirmed cases of cancer to determine how far cancer has spread and how well it’s responding to treatment. PET is a nuclear medicine medical imaging technique that […]
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Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) refers to the metabolic disturbances that occur when large numbers of neoplastic cells are killed rapidly, leading to the release of intracellular ions and metabolic byproducts into the systemic circulation. These electrolyte and metabolic disturbances can progress to clinical toxic effects, including renal insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and death due to multiorgan failure. The tumor lysis syndrome […]
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Paraneoplastic syndromes are symptoms that occur at sites distant from a tumor or its metastasis. They are rare disorders that are triggered by an altered immune system response to a neoplasm. Recent medical advances have improved the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of paraneoplastic syndromes. These disorders arise from tumor secretion of hormones, peptides, or cytokines or from immune cross-reactivity between malignant […]
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The purpose of this article is to review the basic principles for the safe and effective use of various chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of neoplastic diseases. Introduction: The long-term understanding of cancer growth is that it is a net result of uncontrolled multiplication of cells that out paces the rate of natural cell death (apoptosis) within the tumor mass. […]
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Transfusion medicine is the branch of medicine that is concerned with transfusion of blood and blood components. It encompasses issues of blood donation, immunohematology and other laboratory testing, transfusion practices, therapeutic apheresis, stem cell collections, cellular therapy, and coagulation. Laboratory management and understanding of state and federal regulations related to blood products are also a large part of the field. Blood banking is the process […]
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In this chapter, we will discuss a variety of spleen disorders. The spleen is located inside the abdominal cavity on the upper left side. A normal spleen weighs about 150 grams and is about 11 cm in length. Under normal circumstances, your spleen is about the size of your fist and hardly even detectable to touch during a physical examination. It […]
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