Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice

Anemia of Chronic Inflammation

Anemia of chronic inflammation (ACI) is also termed anemia of chronic disease and considered the second most frequent anemia in the world, after iron deficiency anemia (IDA). ACI is also the most common anemia in hospitalized patients, found in conditions…

Disorders of Iron Homeostasis: Iron Deficiency and Overload

Iron is an essential nutrient for every cell of the body. Both decreased and increased total body iron, as well its inappropriate tissue distribution may be clinically important. In iron deficiency, limitation of the synthesis of physiologically active iron-containing compounds…

Iron Homeostasis and Its Disorders

Iron is an essential trace element required for energy production, oxygen transport and utilization, and cellular proliferation. Iron is a catalyst, acting as an electron donor and an electron acceptor by readily interconverting between ferric (Fe 3+ ) and ferrous…

Approach to Anemia in the Adult and Child

Anemia is the clinical state of red cell mass inappropriately low for the individual’s physiologic state. Anemias are among the most commonly encountered laboratory findings and clinical disorders in hematology. They encompass a broad range of clinical disorders and diseases…

Pathobiology of the Human Erythrocyte and Its Hemoglobins

Anemia, polycythemia, and functional derangements of the human erythrocyte together represent a common group of human disorders with a significant impact on public health. Sickle cell disease, hemoglobin E (HbE)–associated disorders, and the thalassemias are humankind’s most common single-gene diseases,…

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

Introduction and History Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an opportunity to expound upon three major topics: hemolytic anemia, autoimmune-mediated bone marrow failure, and thrombosis. For the physician explaining a new diagnosis to the patient, PNH is now a cause for…

Aplastic Anemia

Aplastic anemia (AA), the paradigm of the bone marrow (BM) failure syndromes, is most simply defined as peripheral blood pancytopenia and a hypocellular BM ( Fig. 31.1 ). AA occurring as a primary hematologic disorder is historically denoted idiopathic, but…

Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes

Introduction Inherited bone marrow (BM) failure is defined herein as decreased production of one or more of the major hematopoietic lineages; i.e., red blood cells (RBCs), neutrophils, and platelets, due to germline mutations that were derived from the parents or…

Thrombocytopoiesis

Platelets, once regarded simply as ”blood dust,” are now recognized to play essential roles in hemostasis. Not only do they form a hemostatic plug and initiate thrombus formation in the event of vascular injury, but they also repair minute vascular…