A blood cell disorder is a condition in which there's a problem with red blood cells, white blood cells, or the smaller circulating cells called platelets, which are critical for clot formation. For more info, please visit: https://www.oncolifehospitals.com/services/hematologist/

1. Sickle
Cell
Anemia
Blood Cell Disorders?
A bloodcelldisorder is aconditioninwhich there's a problemwithredblood
cells, white blood cells, or the smaller circulating cells called platelets, which are
criticalforclotformation.All threecelltypes forminthebonemarrow,which is the
soft tissue inside the bones. Red blood cells transport oxygen to the body's organs
andtissues.Whitebloodcellshelpthebodyfightinfections.Plateletshelptheblood
toclot.Bloodcelldisordersimpairtheformationandfunctionofoneormoreofthese
typesofbloodcells.
Whatarethesymptomsofbloodcelldisorders?
Symptomswillvarydependingonthetypeofbloodcelldisorder.
CommonsymptomsofRedBloodCelldisordersare:
Fatigue Shortness ofbreath
Troubleconcentratingfromlackof
oxygenatedblood in thebrain
Muscle weakness Afast
heartbeat
Commonsymptoms of White
BloodCelldisordersare:
Chronicinfections Fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Malaise,orageneralfeeling
ofbeingunwell
CommonsymptomsofPlateletDisordersare:
Cuts orsores thatdon't healorareslow toheal
Bloodthatdoesn'tclotafteraninjuryorcut
Skin thatbruiseseasily Unexplained nosebleeds orbleeding fromthegums
Therearemanytypesofbloodcelldisordersthatcangreatlyaffecttheoverallhealth.
Red BloodCell Disorders
Redbloodcelldisordersaffectthebody'sredbloodcells.Thesearecellsinthe
bloodthatcarry oxygen fromthelungs totherest ofthebody.Thereareavarietyof
thesedisorders,whichcanaffectbothchildrenandadults.
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2. Anemia
Anemiais onetypeofredbloodcelldisorder.A lackofthemineralironinthe
blood commonly causes this disorder. The Human body needs iron to produce the
protein hemoglobin, which helps the red blood cells (RBCs) carry oxygen from the
lungstotherestofthebody.Therearemanytypesofanemia.
Irondeficiencyanemia:Irondeficiencyanemiaoccurswhenbodydoesnot
haveenough iron.Onemay feeltiredandshort ofbreathbecause theRBCs arenot
carryingenoughoxygentothelungs.Ironsupplementationusuallycuresthistypeof
anemia.
Perniciousanemia:Perniciousanemiais anautoimmuneconditioninwhich
humanbodyis unabletoabsorbsufficientamountsofvitaminB-12.Thisresultsina
low numberofRBCs. Itis called“pernicious,”meaningdangerous, because itused
to be untreatable and often fatal. Now, B-12 injections usually cure this type of
anemia.
Aplasticanemia:Aplasticanemiaisararebutseriousconditioninwhichthe
bonemarrowstopsmakingenoughnewbloodcells.Itcanoccursuddenlyorslowly,
andatanyage.Itcanleavethefeelingofbeingtiredandunabletofightoffinfections
oruncontrolledbleeding.
Hemolyticanemia
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red
bloodcells.Redbloodcellsprovideoxygentobodytissues.Normally,redbloodcells
lastforabout120daysinthebody.Inhemolyticanemia,redbloodcellsintheblood
aredestroyedearlierthannormal.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA) : Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
(AHA) causes the immune system to destroy red blood cells faster than the body
canreplacethem.ThisresultsinhavingtoofewRBCs.
Sickle cell anemia:Sickle cellanemia(SCA) is atypeofanemiathatdraws
its name from the unusual sickle shape of the affected red blood cells. Due to a
genetic mutation, the red blood cells of people with sickle cell anemia contain
abnormal hemoglobin molecules, which leave them rigid and curved. The sickle-
shapedredbloodcellscan'tcarryasmuchoxygentothetissuesasnormalredblood
cells can.Theymayalso becomestuck inthebloodvessels,blockingbloodflowto
theorgans.
Normal Hemolytic Anemia
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3. Thalassemia
Thalassemia is a group of inherited blood disorders. These disorders are
caused by genetic mutations that prevent the normal production of hemoglobin.
Whenredbloodcellsdonothaveenoughhemoglobin,oxygendoesn'tgettoallparts
ofthebody.Organsthendonotfunctionproperly.Thesedisorderscanresultin:Bone
deformities, Enlarged spleen, Heart problems, Growth and developmental delays in
children
G6PDdeficiency-GeneticdefectswithintheredcellsmayfindG6PDdeficiency
Polycythemiavera
Polycythemia is a blood cancer caused by a gene mutation. If a patient has
polycythemia, his bone marrow makes too many red blood cells. This causes his
blood to thicken and flow more slowly, putting him at risk for blood clots that can
cause heart attacks or strokes. There is no known cure. Treatment involves
phlebotomy,orremovingbloodfromtheveins,andmedication.
White BloodCell Disorders
White blood cells (leukocytes) help defend the body against infection and
foreign substances. White blood cell disorders can affect the body's immune
response and body's ability to fight off infection. These disorders can affect both
adults andchildren.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a blood cancer that occurs in the body's lymphatic system.
White blood cells change and grow out of control. 'Hodgkins lymphoma and 'non-
Hodgkinslymphomaarethetwomajortypesoflymphoma.
Leukemia
Leukemiais bloodcancerinwhichmalignantwhitebloodcellsmultiplyinside
thebody's bonemarrow.Leukemiamaybeeitheracuteorchronic.Chronicleukemia
advances moreslowly.
Myelodysplasticsyndrome(MDS)
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a condition affecting the white blood
cellsinthebonemarrow.Thebodyproducestoomanyimmaturecells,calledblasts.
The blasts multiply and crowd out the mature and healthy cells. Myelodysplastic
syndromemayprogresseitherslowlyorquitefast.Itsometimesleadstoleukemia.
Normal
Blood
Leukemia
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4. Platelet Disorders
Blood platelets are the first responders when patient has a cut or any other
injury.They gather at the site of the injury, creating a temporary plug to stop blood
loss.Ifpatienthasaplateletdisorder,hisbloodhasoneofthreeabnormalities:
Notenoughplatelets– ImmuneThrombocytopenicPurpura(ITP):Having too
fewplateletsisquitedangerousbecauseevenasmallinjurycancauseseriousblood
loss.
Toomanyplatelets– Thrombocystosis:Ifpatienthastoomanyplateletsinthe
blood,bloodclotscanformandblockamajorartery,causingastrokeorheartattack.
Plateletsthatdon'tclot correctly :Sometimes, deformed platelets can't stick
tootherbloodcells orthewalls ofthebloodvessels, andso can't clotproperly.This
canalsoleadtoadangerouslossofblood.
Plateletdisordersareprimarily
genetic,meaningtheyareinherited.
Someofthesedisordersinclude:-
VonWillebranddisease
VonWillebrand disease is themost common inherited bleedingdisorder.Itis
caused by a deficiency ofa protein that helps the blood clot, called VonWillebrand
factor(VWF).
Hemophilia
Hemophilia is probably the best-known blood clotting disorder. It occurs
almost always in Males. The most serious complication of hemophilia is excessive
and prolonged bleeding. This bleeding can be either inside or outside the body.The
bleeding can start for no apparent reason. Treatment involves a hormone called
desmopressin for mild Hemophilia, which can promote release of more of the
reducedclottingfactor,andinfusionsofFFPcryoprecipitate,recombinantfactors.
AcquiredPlateletFunctiondisorders
Certain drugs and medical conditions can also affect the functioning of
platelets. The Canadian Hemophilia Association (CHA) warns that the following
commondrugsmayaffectplatelets,especiallyiftakenlong-term.
ITP
Lymphoma
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5. Aspirin
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory(NSAIDs)
Someantibiotics
Heartdrugs
Blood thinners
Antidepressants
Anesthetics
Antihistamines
Plasma Cell Disorders
Therearea large varietyof disorders thataffectthe plasma cells, thetype of
whitebloodcellsinthebodythatmakeantibodies.Thesecellsareveryimportantto
thebody'sabilitytowardoffinfectionanddisease.
MultipleMyeloma
Multiple myeloma is a rare blood cancer that develops in the plasma cells in
thebonemarrow.Malignant plasma cells accumulateinthebonemarrowandform
tumorscalledplasmacytomas,generallyinbonessuchasthespine,hips,orribs.The
abnormalplasmacellsproduceabnormalantibodiescalledmonoclonal(M) proteins.
These proteins buildupinthebonemarrow,crowding outthehealthyproteins.This
canleadtothickenedbloodandkidneydamage.Thecauseofplasmacellmyelomais
unknown.
Howarebloodcelldisordersdiagnosed?
A complete blood count (CBC) to see how many of each type of blood cells
patienthas.A bonemarrowbiopsytoseeifthereareanyabnormalcellsdeveloping
inthemarrow.Thiswillinvolveremovingasmallamountofbonemarrowfortesting.
Multiple Myeloma
Bone
Marrow
Biopsy
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6. What are thetreatmentoptions for blood cell disorders ?
The Treatment plan depends on the cause of patient's illness, age and overall
healthstatus.Theremaybeacombinationoftreatmentstohelpcorrectthebloodcell
disorder.
1) Dietarysupplementssuch as ironandFolic acid can treatanemiadueto
deficiencies.
2) Forwhitebloodcelldisorders,antibioticscanhelpfightinfections-inj.GCSF.
3) Some medicinal treatmentsuch as Eltrombopag tostimulate thebone
marrowtoproducemoreplateletsinaplateletdisorder.
4) Chemotherapy-Use ofone ormoreanticancer drugs in standardized
regimens.
5) TransfusionTherapy- A blood transfusion is another option to help replace
lost ordamaged bloodcells. During abloodtransfusion, patientreceives an
infusionofhealthybloodfromadonor.
6) Bone marrow & stem cell transplant may repair or replace damaged
marrow. These involve transferring stem cells, usually froma donor,tothe
patient's bodytohelphisbonemarrowbeginproducingnormalbloodcells.
7) GeneTherapy&StemCellTherapy
Bothproceduresrequirespecific criteriatosucceed.
A) Bone marrow donors must matchorbeas close as possible tothe
patient's geneticprofile.
B) Bloodtransfusionsrequireadonorwithacompatiblebloodtype.
Autologous &Allogenic Bone Marrow Transplant
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7. When ToRefer To Hematologist
Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO)
Unexplainedanemia, thrombocytopenia,
leucopenia
UnexplainedPancytopenia
AlltypesofBloodCancer
Abnormal cells onperipheral smear like
blasts,atypicallymphocyte,schistocytes,
leukoerythroblasticpicture
UnexplainedLymphadenopathy,
Hepatomegaly,Splenomegaly
UnexplainedFever,weightloss
Suspectedcaseofbleedingdisorder,
familyhistoryofbleeding
Bloodclotsinbody(thrombosis)
HighHemoglobin,Whitebloodcells
countandPlateletscount
Abnormal coagulation tests
Suspectingstoragedisorder
QualityCare Begins with Right Referrals
Dr.VarunAshok Bafna
Consultant(Adult &Pediatric)Hematologist
&Hemato-Oncologoist
Bone Marrow &Stem CellTransplantPhysician
Onco Life Cancer Centre