Blood Disorders

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

The spleen is located on the left side of the abdomen above the stomach and under the ribs. It is about the size of an adult fist and weighs about 200 grams in a healthy adult. A doctor may order...

The spleen is an organ that often goes unnoticed by the average person. While it serves an important role in the body's function, it is not critical to survival in the manner of the heart or lungs.

Anemia is a health condition in which the amounts of red blood cells in the body are below normal. Extrinsic hemolytic anemia is a form of anemia that affects the spleen.

Beta thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder passed down from parents to children. It's most common among people of Greek, Italian, Asian, Middle Eastern and African descent. There are three...

One of the effects of an enlarged spleen--known as splenomegaly--is pain in the left side of the abdomen, next to the stomach, where the spleen is positioned. Although not all people experience...

Thrombocytopenia is a blood condition in which your child's body does not have enough platelets. The condition varies from mild to severe and treatment will vary according to severity, some may...

The spleen is a fist-sized organ that is part of the lymphatic system. It is located on the left side of the abdomen, above the stomach and directly underneath the ribs. A swollen or enlarged...

Myelofibrosis is a bone marrow disease that interferes with the body's regular blood cell production. It causes significant bone marrow scarring, prompting severe anemia, weakness, fatigue and in...

If you are having an overwhelming feeling of fullness despite only eating small portions of food, accompanied by unexplained pain in the upper-left quadrant of your abdomen, make an appointment...

Myelofibrosis is a disorder of the bone marrow that results in scarring of the marrow tissue. This scarring can lead to fatigue, weakness and an enlarged spleen and liver. The disorder can...

Blood platelets are colorless cells that help clot blood. When a blood vessel is injured or damaged in some way, platelets clump together to stop the blood flow out of the body. When platelets are...

Blood platelets are colorless cells in the bloodstream that aid in forming clots when a blood vessel is cut or injured. If there are not enough platelets to clump at an injured blood vessel then...

If your doctor feels that there is a need, she may send you to the lab for some routine blood work. A complete blood count (CBC) may also be performed in order to determine that you have an...

Polycythemia is a disorder of the blood that involves an increase over the normal range of blood cells in the body. The disease may take on any of three forms: polycythemia vera, overproduction of...

Hemolytic anemia is a type of anemia that is caused by an abnormal break down in red blood cells, as opposed to hemoglobin. Symptoms, such as excessive fatigue, shortness of breath and pale skin...