Hematology
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226076908
2008-07-16T18:52:01Z
MastCell
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/Mellison|Mellison]] ([[User talk:Mellison|talk]]) to last version by Philip Trueman
'''Hematology''' ([[American English]]) or '''haematology''' ([[British English]]) is the branch of biology (physiology), [[pathology]], [[clinical laboratory]], [[internal medicine]], and [[pediatrics]] that is concerned with the study of [[blood]], the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases. Hematology includes the study of [[etiology]], [[diagnosis]], treatment, [[prognosis]], and [[prevention]] of blood diseases. The lab work that goes into the study of blood is performed by a [[Medical Technologist]].
'''Blood diseases''' affect the production of blood and its components, such as [[blood cells]], [[hemoglobin]], [[blood proteins]], the mechanism of [[coagulation]], etc.
==Haematologists and Haematopathologists==
Physicians specialized in hematology are known as '''haematologists'''. Their routine work mainly includes the care and treatment of patients with hematological diseases, although some may also work at the haematology laboratory viewing [[blood film]]s and [[bone marrow]] slides under the [[microscope]], interpreting various hematological test results. In some institutions, hematologists also manage the hematology laboratory. Physicians who work in hematology laboratories, and most commonly manage it, are pathologists specialized in the diagnosis of hematological diseases, referred to as '''haematopathologists'''. Hematologists and haematopathologists generally work in conjunction to formulate a diagnosis and deliver the most appropriate therapy if needed. Haematology is a distinct subspecialty of internal medicine, separate from but overlapping with the subspecialty of medical oncology. Haematologists may specialise further or have special interests, for example in:
*treating bleeding disorders such as [[hemophilia]] and [[idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]]
*treating haematological malignacies such as [[lymphoma]] and [[leukemia]] (onco haematology)
*treating [[haemoglobinopathies]]
*in the science of [[blood transfusion]] and the work of a [[blood bank]]
''(Hema- comes from the Greek word "`'aima" meaning "blood", -ology means study of.
==Common basic clinical hematology tests==
In a clinical laboratory the hematology department performs numerous different tests on blood. The most commonly performed test is the [[complete blood count]] (CBC) also called full blood count (FBC), which includes; [[white blood cell]] count, [[platelet]] count, [[hemoglobin]] level and several parameters of [[red blood cell]]s. [[Coagulation]] is a sub-speciality of hematology; basic general coagulation tests are the [[prothrombin time]] (PT) and [[partial thromboplastin time]] (PTT). Another common hematology test in the [[erythrocyte sedimentation rate]] (ESR).
In a [[blood bank]] the [[Coombs test]] is the most commonly performed test.{{Fact|date=April 2007}}
==Hematology as basic medical science==
*[[Blood]]
**[[Venous blood]]
**[[Venipuncture]]
**[[Haemopoiesis]]
**[[Blood tests]]
**[[Cord blood]]
*[[Red blood cell]]s
**[[Erythropoiesis]]
**[[Erythropoietin]]
**[[Iron metabolism]]
**[[Haemoglobin]]
**[[Glycolysis]]
**[[Pentose phosphate pathway]]
*[[Reticuloendothelial system]]
**[[Bone marrow]]
**[[Spleen]]
**[[Liver]]
*[[Lymphatic system]]
*[[Blood transfusion]]
**[[Blood plasma]]
**[[Blood bank]]
**[[Blood donor]]s
**[[Blood groups]]
*[[Haemostasis]]
**[[Coagulation]]
**[[Vitamin K]]
*[[Complement system]]
**[[Immunoglobulins]]
==Classification of hematologic diseases==
Major categories of [[hematologic disease]] include:
*'''[[Hemoglobinopathy|Hemoglobinopathies]]''' (congenital abnormality of the [[hemoglobin]] molecule or of the rate of hemoglobin synthesis)
*'''[[Anemia]]s''' (lack of [[red blood cells]] or hemoglobin)
*'''[[Hematological malignancies]]'''
*'''[[Coagulopathy|Coagulopathies]]''' (disorders of [[bleeding]] and [[coagulation]])
==Tests==
Tests used in the investigation of hematological problems include:
*[[Full blood count]]
*[[Erythrocyte sedimentation rate]] (ESR)
*[[Blood film]]
*[[Bone marrow examination]]
*[[Coombs test]]
*[[Diascopy]]
*serum [[Ferritin]] level
*[[Vitamin B12]] and [[Folate]] levels
*[[Prothrombin time]]
*[[Partial thromboplastin time]]
*[[Protein electrophoresis]]
*[[Hemoglobin electrophoresis]]
*[[D-dimer]]
*[[Eosinophil granulocyte|EOS]]
==Treatments==
Treatments include:
*[[Dieting|Diet]] advice
*Oral [[medication]] - tablets or liquid medicines
*[[Anticoagulation]] therapy
*Intramuscular injections (for example, [[Vitamin B12]] injections)
*[[Blood transfusion]] (for [[anemia]])
*[[Venesection]] (for [[hemochromatosis|iron overload]] or [[polycythemia]])
*[[Bone marrow transplant]] (for example, for [[leukemia]])
*[[Chemotherapy]] (for example, for [[leukemia]])
*[[Radiotherapy]] (in decline, for example, for [[leukemia]])
==Alphabetical lists==
*[[:Category:Hematologists|Hematologists]]
*[[:Category:Blood disorders|Blood disorders]]
*[[:Category:Hematology|Hematology topics]]
== External links ==
*[http://www.hematology.org/ American Society of Hematology]
*[http://www.bloodline.net/ BloodLine]
*[http://www.apon.org/files/public/timeline_chart.pdf Major milestones in history of hematology] (PDF)
*[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Index:Hematology Multilingual index]
*[http://www.thecrookstoncollection.com/gallery Extensive Hematology Slide Collection]
{{Hematology}}
{{transfusion medicine}}
{{Medicine}}
[[Category:Blood disorders]]
[[Category:Hematology| ]]
[[Category:Subjects taught in medical school]]
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[[bn:রক্তবিদ্যা]]
[[bg:Хематология]]
[[ca:Hematologia]]
[[cs:Hematologie]]
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[[es:Hematología]]
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[[fa:خونشناسی]]
[[fr:Hématologie]]
[[gl:Hematoloxía]]
[[id:Hematologi]]
[[is:Blóðfræði]]
[[it:Ematologia]]
[[he:המטולוגיה]]
[[la:Haematologia]]
[[lt:Hematologija]]
[[nl:Hematologie]]
[[ne:रक्तशास्त्र]]
[[ja:血液学]]
[[no:Hematologi]]
[[nds:Hämatologie]]
[[pl:Hematologia]]
[[pt:Hematologia]]
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[[ru:Гематология]]
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[[sk:Hematológia]]
[[fi:Hematologia]]
[[sv:Hematologi]]
[[th:โลหิตวิทยา]]
[[tr:Hematoloji]]
[[uk:Гематологія]]
[[zh:血液學]]