Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder caused by an abnormality of hemoglobin. The disease is characterized by a chronic hemolytic anemia. The search for affordable and accessible medicines mainly from plants and having various modes of actions for managing SCD is a priority in Africa where the disease is endemic. The first chapter in this book reviews children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). The authors also present their research that shows that clinically, children with SCD behave differently regarding their genetics. The second chapter gives an overview of the current progress in research in calcium handling in red blood cells of sickle cell disease patients, followed by an outlook into the potential use of blockers of the cation channels for therapy of SCD patients. The third chapter reviews and validates the pharmacological relevance of "Gardenia ternifolia" and sustains the use of this herbal medicine in the management of SCD in traditional medical systems. The fourth chapter reviews the search and the development of antisickling herbal drugs in Africa, where Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an endemic. The last chapter reviews SCD and its impact on sexual functioning as well as relationship dynamics. Conclusions support the importance of social support and its far-reaching impact into the coping mechanisms of patients with chronic illness as well as quality of life.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a subtype of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) with varying clinical presentations, ranging from indolent disease to highly aggressive symptoms. MCL represents approximately 3-10% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and has increased in incidence over the past several decades. The majority of patients respond to initial therapy, but remission duration is typically short. This book discusses the clinical characteristics of mantle cell lymphoma, as well as its prevalence and examines several treatment options available.

This book discusses different aspects of neutropenia including drug-induced neutropenia, which is quite common, and neutropenia in chemotherapy-treated patients. The authors offer an all-encompassing approach to the pathobiology and treatment of neutropenic disorders. This book reviews current information concerning neutropenia. There have been significant advances in medicine; however, bacterial infections continue to contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in patients with neutropenia particularly cancer patients who develop chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. In this setting, it is important to understand pathophysiology of neutropenia and have a logical approach in diagnosis and treatment of neutropenia. Gathering all this information in one book will be of immense benefit for healthcare workers including physicians, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses and this in turn will help them improve the care of their patients. It will also be of benefit for pharmacists as a source of clinical and pharmacological knowledge. For researchers undertaking research in the field of hemato-oncology or pharmacology, this will be a useful starting point for reviewing the literature. The editors have tried to allow information in book chapters to show different aspects and various view points on related issues.

This text is a review of molecular immunohematology (MI). It draws from analyses and case studies around the world and details many techniques used in many labs. It is aimed at anyone interested in how MI is changing blood bank and transfusion medicine.

Decreased platelet counts can be due to a number of disease processes causing decreased platelet production, increased platelet destruction, or can be medication-induced. Health care providers have to differentiate inherited thrombocytopenias, primary immune thrombocytopenias (ITP), secondary immune thrombocytopenias, myelodysplastic syndromes with thrombocytopenia, bone marrow failure syndromes and non-immune thrombocytopenias. ITP is the most common cause of isolated thrombocytopenia. This book focuses on discussing ITP in adults; new treatment for ITP; thrombocytopenia during pregnancy; the different diagnosis of thrombocytopenia; heparin-induced thrombocytopenia; and thrombocytopenia in dengue.

Anaemia is defined as the decrease in haemoglobin from normal values either by loss of red blood cells or deficit in production or both. Haemoglobin is the major transporter of oxygen. The variation in haemoglobin is therefore a factor in determining the cardiac output. This book begins by discussing the effects anaemia has on heart diseases. The book then continues to discuss the influence of iron deficiency anaemia and recovery on oxidative/antioxidant status; influence of iron deficiency anaemia on bone metabolism; sickle cell anaemia; anaemia in myelodysplastic syndromes; transfusion in chronic anaemia; the prevalence, risk factors and management with a focus on chronic kidney disease; strategy for treating anaemia in chronic kidney disease patients from the standpoint of iron utility; and parasitic anaemia.

Thalassemia is one of the most common genetic disorders worldwide and presents major public health and social challenges in areas of high incidence. The frequency of this disorder varies considerably with geographic locations and racial groups. Thalassemia refers to a group of inherited hemolytic anemia disorders that involve defects in the synthesis of hemoglobin - or -polypeptide chains. It leads to decreased hemoglobin production and hypochromic microcytic anemia associated with erythrocyte dysplasia and destruction. Homozygous -thalassemia (also known as thalassemia major, Cooley's anemia, or Mediterranean anemia) is associated with the most severe signs and symptoms. Thalassemia major (TM) is a life-threatening condition that commonly manifests during early infancy, after which progressive pallor, severe anemia, and failure to thrive are common. Children with TM often develop feeding problems, recurrent fever, bleeding tendencies (especially epistaxis), susceptibility to infection, pathologic fractures of long bones and vertebrae, endocrine abnormalities, splenomegaly, lack of sexual maturation, and growth retardation. This book discusses cures and treatments available for thalassemia, as well as the causes and the type of long-term health outcomes it may cause.

Myeloproliferative disorders are a group of clonal haematological neoplasms characterised by proliferation of one or more cells of myeloid lineage. They are the result of acquired mutations in the progenitor cell leading to hyper proliferation or neoplastic expansion of more mature forms of myeloid cells. Cells retain their functional ability with some degree of defects and also lead to suppression of normal stem cells. The most common type of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) can broadly be classified into BCR ABL positive (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia) and BCR ABL negative Disorders (Polycythemia Vera PV, Essential Thrombocytosis ET and Primary Myelofibrosis PMF). There are other rare types which have relatively low incidence like chronic neutrophilic leukemia, chronic eosinophilic leukemia, systemic mastocytosis and myeloproliferative neoplasms unclassifiable. These are the indolent type of haematological malignancies associated with marrow hypercellularity and organomegaly, with gradual progression to myelofibrosis or transformation to acute leukemias. During the dormant course of the BCR ABL negative MPN, they are more prone to thrombo-hemorrhagic complications and the treatment strategy is directed mostly to prevent complications. The past decade; therapies for BCR ABL positive disease (CML) have been a milestone achievement in keeping the disease in remission for many years, preventing major complications and halting the progression of the disease. This book discusses the classification, diagnosis and treatment of myeloproliferative diseases and provides insight on the symptoms and risk factors involved in the diseases.

Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filters have become an important part of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism treatment and prevention. With the advent of retrievable filters a new era of IVC instrumentation has been initiated. This book will begin to review the history of IVC filtration, indications for permanent and temporary filter use and filter use in special populations such as the pregnant patient or those with upper extremity venous thrombosis. The authors also review the technical aspects of filter placement and retrieval and discuss immediate and long-term complications from IVC filters. The book will also continue to discuss how acute spinal cord injury provides risks for developing deep vein thrombosis; and discuss the efficacy and safety of novel oral anticoagulants for venous thromboembolisms.

Plasmapheresis is a therapeutic tool used to treat a wide range of disease processes, and in which the priority aim is to ensure sufficient plasma exchange to reduce or eliminate symptoms resulting from the action of pathogenic elements vehiculised in the plasma. Scientific selective apheresis with principles of evidence-based medicine involves the application of one of the oldest therapeutic modalities (bleeding), widely used between the fourth century B.C. and the second industrial revolution. This book provides information on the use of plasmapheresis during pregnancy; therapeutic use of autologous plasma for the treatment of dry eye disease; and therapeutic plasma exchange in the neurological setting. It also discusses intravenous immunoglobulins. During the past decades intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) have gained more and more popularity for the treatment of a wide range of diseases and conditions. This treatment is extensively used in immune deficits, autoimmune thrombocytopenia, Kawasaki's disease, for the prevention of infectious complications due to hypogammaglobulinaemia secondary to myeloma, chronic lymphatic leukaemia and post-bone marrow and stem cell transplantation, in Guillain-Barre syndrome, etc. IV-Ig is obtained from the plasma of healthy blood donors and contains normal, polyclonal, polyspecific immunoglobins (Ig), mostly consisting of intact IgG. These antibodies are directed against non-self-antigens, self-antigens (natural autoantibodies), and other antibodies (idiotypic antibodies). The administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is generally safe and well tolerated. However, the treatment of autoimmune disorders usually requires high dose therapy (1-2 g/kg) that may result in a greater frequency of side effects and adverse events. This book discusses several topics including the clinical application of intravenous immunoglobulins in autoimmune mediated ocular inflammatory diseases; complications of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy; clinical uses; and side effects.

Thrombophilias can be defined as a group of inherited or acquired disorders that increase the risk of developing thrombosis. Venous thromboembolism (VT) is considered a multifactorial disease produced by a sum of risk factors that predispose to the thrombotic event. This predisposition includes genetic and acquired defects. Thrombosis can occur in any section of the venous system, but commonly manifests as deep vein thrombosis of the leg and pulmonary embolism. Major complications of venous thrombosis are a disabling post-thrombotic syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, and sudden death duo to a pulmonary embolism and therefore, it poses a burden on health economy. Venous thrombosis is a common clinical challenge for doctors of all disciplines, as it is a complex multicausal disease. This books discusses in further detail the many complications and risk factors caused by venous thrombosis.

"Hematology in Traditional Chinese Medicine Cardiology" instructs readers on the blood, complement and immune system from the western and Chinese medicine perspectives. The book focuses on the cardiovascular issues concerning blood and the immune system, provides laboratory values concerning blood and the cardiovascular system, and covers cardiovascular diseases from the Chinese medicine and western medicine perspectives. It compares the eight principles in traditional Chinese medicine with basic science perspectives in western medicine, analyzes laboratory blood testing for heart diseases, and discusses the use of blood results for diagnosing and monitoring.
Balances basic theories in Chinese medicine with basic medical sciences on blood, immune system and cardiovascular diseasesProvides laboratory tests and values necessary for the monitoring of blood quality, and other tests for monitoring cardiovascular diseases in integrative Chinese medicinePrepares the practitioner to sit for the Niambi Wellness Integrative anatomy and patho-physiology in cardiology final online exam

"HEMATOLOGY - An updated review through Extended Matching Questions" is the first of its kind in the field of hematology. It offers the reader a chance to review the subject through extended matching questions and interesting supplementary information is provided along with each answer. Few selected references as suggested readings are also listed. A wide range of topics are covered in multiple sections including: General and Laboratory Hematology Themes, Hematological Oncology Themes, Hemostasis and Thrombosis Themes, Transfusion Medicine Themes, Therapeutics Themes, Management Themes, Research, Ethics and Statistical Themes. This publication was the first one to bridge the gap in the markets as EMQ books in Hematology were lacking. It has attracted wide readership across the globe from those who are interested in refreshing their knowledge in Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, or those who are planning to appear in examinations. In this revised edition, feedback from readers and reviewers has been incorporated to enhance readers' satisfaction. New questions have been added on paraneoplastic syndromes, Rh antigen system nomenclature and related antibodies, monoclonal antibodies based targeted therapies, and supplementary information has also been updated for several chapters. This book has something for every reader Few words about the author... Dr. Zaidi is a consultant hematologist with more than 20 years of experience in the field of Hematology (both clinical & laboratory), transfusion medicine, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and medical teaching at undergraduate & postgraduate levels. He has moved around the world gathering this outstanding experience. He has also mentored many young physicians making their career path in Hematology. He has several presentations & peer reviewed publications on his credit, some of which brought up novel ideas to the medical literature

Defined as red blood cell break down and the release of hemoglobin and intracellular contents into the plasma, haemolysis can seriously impact patient care as well as the laboratory's reputation through its affect on test results. Therefore, the European Preanalytical Scientific Committee, in collaboration with the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry Working Group on Patient Safety, have designed a questionnaire to collect data on prevalence and management of haemolytic specimens referred to the clinical laboratories for clinical chemistry testing. The new book will help identify the areas where haemolysis occurs most frequently, which can, in turn, guide further analysis about why it is occurring. Once these elements are known, practices and procedures can be implemented to dramatically reduce haemolysis and avoid erroneous laboratory results affecting patient care and increasing laboratory costs.

EMPOWER YOURSELF! Whether you're a newly diagnosed myeloma patient, a survivor, or a friend or relative of either, this book offers help. The only text to provide the doctor's and patient's views, 100 Questions & Answers About Myeloma, Third Edition gives you authoritative, practical answers to your questions about treatment options, post-treatment quality of life, sources of support, and much more. Written by a hematologist-oncologist specializing in myeloma treatment, and featuring "insider" advice from an actual patient, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone coping with the physical and emotional turmoil of this frightening disease.

"The Gift of Experience" captures the lives and perspectives of twenty-one men, born with hemophilia, and their caregivers, in ways that other resources have failed to do. In vital and personal stories, these individuals speak about the experience of coping with hemophilia. Their accounts capture the impact of the dramatic advances in the treatment of the disease as well as the challenges of chronic pain, joint damage and HIV and hepatitis C infection resulting from the tainted blood supply between the late 1960s and the mid-1980s." Laura Gray and Christine Chamberlain have done a tremendous job weaving these oral histories into a narrative that allows their subjects to speak for themselves. "The Gift of Experience" is a 'must read' for anyone interested in the illness and disability experiences of people with chronic diseases as well as those with bleeding disorders. "The Gift of Experience" is moving and inspiring, a hopeful account of the human experience.

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is an inherited bleeding disorder that is caused by deficiency or dysfunction of von Willebrand factor (VWF), a plasma protein that mediates the initial adhesion of platelets at sites of vascular injury and also binds and stabilizes blood clotting factor VIII (FVIII) in the circulation. This book examines the need for more information on VWD prevalence and the relationship between low VWF levels of bleeding symptoms or risk and improving clinical and laboratory diagnostic tools.