Blood Disorders
What Is Pulmonary Embolism?
A pulmonary embolism (PULL-mun-ary EM-bo-lizm), or PE, is a sudden blockage in a lung artery. The blockage usually is due to a blood clot that traveled to the lung from a vein in the leg. A clot that forms in one part of the body and travels in the bloodstream to another part of... »
What Is Polycythemia Vera?
Polycythemia (POL-e-si-THE-me-ah) vera (VAY-rah or VE-rah), or PV, is a rare blood disease in which your body makes too many red blood cells. The extra red blood cells make your blood thicker than normal. As a result, blood clots can form more easily and block blood flow through your arteries and veins. This can... »
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Overview and Outlook
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (ko-ag-u-LA-shun), or DIC, is a condition in which blood clots form throughout the body’s small blood vessels. These blood clots can reduce or block blood flow through the blood vessels, which can damage the body’s organs. In DIC, the increased clotting uses up platelets (PLATE-lets) and clotting factors in the blood.... »
Thalassemias Overview
Thalassemias (thal-a-SE-me-ahs) are inherited blood disorders. “Inherited” means that parents pass the genes for the disorder on to their children. Thalassemias cause the body to make fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin (HEE-muh-glow-bin) than normal. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells. It carries oxygen to all parts of the... »
Living With Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Some people fully recover from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). However, relapses (or flareups) can occur in up to 60 percent of cases. If this happens, plasma therapy and/or medicines will need to be restarted. If you’ve had TTP, you should call your doctor right away if you have signs or symptoms of a relapse.... »
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Overview
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare blood condition. It causes blood clots to form in small blood vessels throughout the body. The blood clots can cause serious problems if they block the blood vessels and limit blood flow to the brain, kidneys, or heart. Blood clots form when blood cell fragments called platelets... »
Causes of Thrombocytopenia
Many factors can cause thrombocytopenia (a low platelet count). The condition can be inherited, or it can develop at any age. “Inherited” means the condition is passed from parents to children through the genes. Sometimes the cause of thrombocytopenia isn’t known. In general, a low platelet count occurs because: The body’s bone marrow doesn’t... »
Thrombocytopenia Overview
Thrombocytopenia (THROM-bo-si-to-PE-ne-ah) is a condition in which your blood has a lower than normal number of blood cell fragments called platelets (PLATE-lets). Platelets are made in your bone marrow along with other kinds of blood cells. They travel through your blood vessels and stick together (clot) to stop any bleeding that may happen if... »
Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
Antiphospholipid (AN-te-fos-fo-LIP-id) antibody syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune disorders occur if the body’s immune system makes antibodies that attack and damage the body’s tissues or cells. Antibodies are a type of protein. The immune system usually makes these proteins to defend against infection. In APS, the body makes antibodies that mistakenly attack... »
What Is Aplastic Anemia?
Aplastic anemia (a-PLAS-tik uh-NEE-me-uh) is a blood disorder in which the body’s bone marrow doesn’t make enough new blood cells. Bone marrow is a sponge-like tissue inside the bones. It makes stem cells that develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (PLATE-lets). Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of... »