Blood Disorders

Blood disorders involve problems with your red or white blood cells, platelets, or plasma. These can cause excessive bleeding or increase your risk of too much blood clotting, depending on the condition.

Bleeding disorders

Bleeding disorders are a group of conditions that occur when the blood cannot clot properly, resulting in too much bleeding. Some of these conditions are hereditary, passed down from one generation to the next. Others may be acquired because of a virus, autoimmune disorder, infection, age, or other factor. The treatment of bleeding disorders depends on the type and severity of the hemophilia or bleeding disorder. In some mild cases, a hormone injection can help the body make more of the necessary clotting factors. In more serious cases, an infusion of clotting factor, usually from donated blood, is necessary to stop bleeding. Regular, preventative infusions of clotting factor may also be needed.

At MedStar Health, we treat patients of all ages with bleeding disorders, such as:

• Hemophilia, which occurs when the blood is not able to clot and stop bleeding as quickly as it should. Many types of hemophilia exist, each caused when a specific clotting factor can't do its job.
• Von Willebrand disease, which is one of the most common bleeding conditions in the country. Like hemophilia, it's a genetic disorder that affects your body's ability to form blood clots and causes you to bleed more than usual.
• Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a condition wherein platelet- (thrombocyte-) count is low, making it difficult for blood to clot and causing bruising. Two kinds exist:
• Acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura, which usually occurs in children after a virus, and generally goes away on its own after about six months.
• Chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura, which usually occurs in adults, and lasts more than six months.

Blood clotting disorders

Blood clotting disorders (coagulation disorders or thrombophilias) develop when the body has difficulty controlling blood clots. This can cause your blood to not clot enough or cause too much clotting (hypercoagulation or thrombosis). When this causes too much clotting, blood clots can travel to other parts of the body, which can lead to serious health problems. For example, blood clots that travel to the legs can cause deep vein thrombosis, while blood clots in the lung can lead to a pulmonary embolism. If blood clots form in the arteries, this can potentially cause heart attack or stroke. Our experienced hematologists treat all types of these disorders, including:

• Factor V Leiden mutation, an inherited condition that increases your risk of blood clots
• Prothrombin gene mutation, another inherited disorder that increases the risk of clotting
• Deficiencies in blood clotting proteins (protein C, protein S, or antithrombin)
• Hyperhomocysteinemia, or increased homocysteine levels that can increase the chances of blood clots
• Sticky platelet syndrome, disordered platelet function associated with blood clots
• Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), an autoimmune disorder that causes abnormal blood clots
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a rare condition often caused by infection or injury

Learn more about Blood Clotting Disorders

Red and white blood cell disorders

Bone marrow consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which are essential for transporting oxygen throughout the body, fighting infection, and helping blood to clot properly. Blood cell disorders affect the function of one or more of these and may include:

• Anemia, a condition wherein the body does not produce enough red blood cells. There are several types of this disorder, including:
• Iron-deficiency anemia, a common, acquired condition
• Sickle cell anemia, which is caused by an inherited disorder that causes red blood cells to form a "sickle" or crescent shape, which can block blood flow
• Aplastic anemia, which prevents your bone marrow from making enough new blood cells
• Pernicious anemia, an autoimmune disease that prevents your body from absorbing enough vitamin B-12
• Thalassemia, an inherited red blood cell disorder that affects hemoglobin production
• Myelodysplastic syndromes, which affect the bone marrow and its capacity to make different blood component (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets)
• Polycythemia vera, which results from the overproduction of blood components

If you seek care for a benign blood disorder at MedStar Health, you'll benefit from:

• Multidisciplinary care involving specialized experts: Our renowned blood doctors (hematologists) collaborate with other specialists in gynecology, colorectal surgery, cardiology, and others to address the root of your bleeding problem.
• State-of-the-art treatments: We offer the complete range of FDA-approved therapies, as well as innovative approaches to bloodless medicine, blood transfusions, and stem cell transplantation, based on your unique needs.
• Expertise in pediatric blood disorders: We're experienced in treating patients of all ages, including kids, adolescents, and young adults living with sickle cell disease, hemophilia, and other blood-related conditions.
• Federal designation as a Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC): Research shows that people with noncancerous blood disorders who seek comprehensive care from an HTC are less likely to experience serious complications or death than those who do not.
• Convenient, coordinated care: With dozens of locations throughout the Maryland and Washington, D.C., region, we offer expert care for blood disorders close to where you live and work.