Blood Disorders

While the spleen does not actually produce blood, it does have important functions related to blood.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder which affects nearly 70,000 Americans, most of whom are of African descent. A number of related conditions are categorized under sickle cell...

Your immune system depends on the proper level of white blood cells to help defend the body against foreign invaders, such as bacteria or viruses. However, there are circumstances in which their...

White blood cells are protective cells in the blood that fight infection. These cells can exit the bloodstream through the vessel walls and defend against invading properties at the site of an...

Hyperkalemia is a condition characterized by an abnormal excess of potassium in the blood (levels greater than 5.0 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Its primary causes are kidney dysfunction,...

Healthy white blood cells release antibodies to help protect the body against disease. Without healthy WBCs, an organism (for instance, the human body) will wither and die. If the WBC count is too...

Low blood counts in children are described by a number of terms and can be caused by a variety of conditions. The blood cells in babies and children are made in the bone marrow of different bones...

White blood cells play an important role in the body, as the cells ward off infection. If your white blood count becomes too low, you are more susceptible to an infection or virus. To build up...

People with anemia don't have enough red blood cells or have deficient red blood cells that are unable to carry oxygen properly. As a result, the oxygen deficiency creates problems that includes...

Blood and marrow stem cell transplantation are procedures that replace stem cells that chemotherapy or high-dose radiation have killed with healthy cells. The stem cells found in blood or in bone...

Your blood contains platelets and white blood cells. White blood cells fight off infection and illness. Platelets are responsible for helping blood clot in the event of an injury, and for...

Sickle cell disease is a hereditary disorder that is caused by the misshapen cell called hemoglobin S (HbS). The effects of sickle cell disease vary in individuals; however, their health is...

A CBC, or complete blood count, is a blood test that is frequently performed as part of a routine physical. This test is also used in the diagnosis of various diseases. This test results in...

A blood transfusion is the process of transferring blood or blood-based components from one person to another. The blood travels from the plastic bag in which it is stored into the veins through...

Anemia is a blood disorder in which a person has very low levels of red blood cells. Anemia often occurs when there is not enough hemoglobin present in the red blood cells. Having anemia means you...

Sickle cell disease, also called sickle cell anemia, is an inherited blood disorder present at birth. Millions of people worldwide have the disease, including about 72,000 people in the United...

Blood plasma is the yellowish liquid component of blood in which blood cells are normally suspended. It makes up about 55 percent of the blood by volume and is composed primarily of water and...

Sickle cell disease, also known as sickle cell anemia, is an inherited blood disorder present at birth. Characterized by defective hemoglobin, the disease has the highest incidence in people of...

Leukemia comes from the Greek word meaning "white blood". It is a combination of several conditions that affect the immature blood forming cells in the bone marrow. It also makes the body...

A comprehensive blood count---more commonly known as a complete blood count, or CBC---is a blood test used to determine the amounts of each specific type of blood cell present in circulating...

Formerly considered medical waste, cord blood can be a lifeline for a child, sibling, family member or compatible stranger. Present in the umbilical cord are stem cells, a blank slate capable of...

Malaria is a parasitic disease of the blood. Sickle cell disease causes the creation of abnormally shaped red blood cells. Malaria parasites cannot enter sickle cells. Sickle cell disease became...

White blood cells help to ward off infections in the human body. Also known as leukocytes, there are five kinds of white blood cells in the body. These are the basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes,...

Red blood cells form inside your bone marrow and function for 110 to 120 days before being destroyed through the natural process of hemolysis, according to the U.S. National Medical Library....

Five main types of white blood cells (WBCs) circulate in your body, and all of these cells protect you from disease-causing agents. Thus, low white blood cells decrease your protection against...

Myelodysplastic syndrome is a group of blood and bone marrow diseases stemming from bone marrow cellularity. Low white blood count, low platelet count--and, in some instances, increased...

In the medical world, the term "myelodysplasia" refers to the defective formation of the spinal cord. When a person has myelodysplastic syndrome, the stem cells which are manufactured within the...

Thalassemia is a blood disorder caused by the inheritance of defective hemoglobin genes. A hemoglobin is a protein within your blood cells. Hemoglobin also transports oxygen to your lungs and your...

Myelodysplastic syndrome is a group of rare blood disorders in which the bone marrow does not function properly. These disorders have a high risk of developing into a usually-fatal form of...

The main function of white blood cells, or leukocytes, is to fight against injury and disease, making them a major part of the body's immune system. White blood cells increase in number when there...

Sickle cell anemia is characterized by misshapen, rigid, sticky red blood cells. Their irregular shape causes them to get stuck in the blood vessels, which interferes with proper blood and oxygen...

Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells. Healthy blood cells carry oxygen through the body. With sickle cell, red blood cells are irregularly...

One of the most important aspects of the immune system is the white blood cell (WBC). According to the Mayo Clinic, your white blood cell count should be approximately 3,500 or more white blood...

Blood cells, also called blood corpuscles, are cellular elements of the blood. Red blood cells (erythrocytes), platelets (thrombocytes) and white blood cells (leukocytes) are the three blood cell...

Myelodysplasia, or MDS, is a group of disorders caused by the malfunctioning of the bone marrow. The bone marrow is the material in the center of bones that is responsible for the production and...

A blood cell may be any of several different types of cells found in the blood. Each blood-cell type performs a specific set of functions. The blood cells only comprise 45 percent of the total...

Myelodysplastic syndromes, known also as myelodysplasia, are a group of disorders characterized by malfunctioning stem cells in the bone marrow, leading to a decreased amount of healthy blood...

Bone marrow is located inside many of the bones, such as the thigh and hip bones. It is spongy tissue that contains stem cells. These stem cells develop into platelets, white and read blood cells....

A complete blood count, or CBC, is a common blood test that is performed as part of a routine physical or to assist in diagnosing disease. A small blood sample is needed and must be collected in a...

A complete blood count (CBC) is a lab test used to analyze the number, size and shape of blood cells. Values measured by the CBC include red and white blood cell counts, hemoglobin concentration...

Your body's immune system is an organized system of white blood cells that fight off infections caused by viruses, bacteria and other toxins. Your body creates many types and shapes of white blood...

Sickle cell anemia is a disease in which the body makes red blood cells shaped like a "C" (sickle) rather than their normal disc shape. These abnormal red blood cells are less flexible and can...

Leukocytes, commonly known as white blood cells, are an important part of the body's immune system. They digest pathogens in a process called phagocytosis. They increase in numbers when there is...

Leukocytes, or white blood cells are round, large cells that are a major part of the body's immune system. These cells contain no hemoglobin. There are five different types of blood cells and...

Red blood cells (RBCs) are a key component of your bloodstream. Their function is to carry oxygen via a protein called hemoglobin. They deliver this oxygen to cells throughout your body,...

Sed rate or EST is the common name for an erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This blood test is drawn using a needle into a lavender stoppered tube that has the additive EDTA in it to prevent the...

Leukocytes, or white blood cells as they are more commonly known, are a major part of the body's immune system. These round, large cells have no nuclei and contain no hemoglobin. There are five...

A complete blood count or CBC is a common blood test that is performed as part of a routine physical or to assist in diagnosing disease. A small blood sample is needed and must be collected in a...

It is common to experience a low blood count at some point in your life. However, it is important to understand the basics and symptoms to ensure a proper and thorough diagnosis. A low blood...

Sickle cell anemia is a condition that primary afflicts those of African descent. There are variations of this condition which also affect those of Mediterranean, Asian and Hispanic descent. It is...