Departments

Hematology (also spelled as haematology in British English) is the branch of medicine concerned with the study of the cause, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to blood. The field of hematology integrates clinical and laboratory medicine. It involves treating diseases that affect the production of blood and its components, such as blood cells, hemoglobin, blood proteins, bone marrow, platelets, blood vessels, spleen, lymphoid tissue, and the mechanism of coagulation.

Hematology treatments are conducted on an outpatient, day-care, or inpatient basis, depending on the specific needs of each patient.

Areas of study

Major areas of study within hematology include Red cell disorders and hemoglobinopathy, hematological malignancies, anemia, and coagulopathy.

➤ Hemoglobinopathy is the study of abnormality in the globin chains of hemoglobin molecules. It includes sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and other hereditary hemolytic disorders.

➤ Hematological malignancies are concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the bone marrow, blood and lymph nodes. The commonly hematological malignancies are:

⮚ Acute myeloid leukemia and Acute lymphoblastic leukemia,

⮚ Chronic myeloid leukemia and Chronic lymphocytic leukemia,

⮚ Myeloma (Multiply myeloma, Smoldering myeloma, MGUS)

⮚ Lymphoma (Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s)

⮚ Anemia (Iron deficiency, Megaloblastic anemia & other hemolytic anemias)

⮚ Coagulation disorders (Hemophilia, Von Willebrand disorder, thrombophilia, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism)

Other disorders treated by a hematologist include:

➤ Bone marrow failure syndromes (Aplastic anemia, PNH, Fanconi’s anemia)

➤ Bone marrow transplantation (Autologous and Allogenic stem cell transplantation)

➤ Myelodysplastic syndromes

➤ Myeloproliferative disorders (Polycythemia, Essential thrombocythemia, Myelofibrosis)

➤ Platelet disorders (ITP, congenital platelet disorders)

➤ Obstetrics blood disorders

➤ Hematological disorders in systemic diseases

Hematology tests

One of the most common hematology tests includes complete blood count (CBC) and peripheral blood smear (PBS). This test is often conducted during a routine exam and can detect anemia, bleeding disorders, blood cancers, immune system disorders, and infections.

Other common hematology tests for diagnosis and treatment include:

➤ Bone marrow examination and Trephine biopsy

➤ Flowcytometry, immunophenotyping & Immunohistochemistry

➤ Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

➤ Molecular genetic analysis

➤ Iron profile, Vitamin B12 assay

➤ BT, CT, PT, INR & APTT