hematology

Hematology is the branch of medicine that studies blood, blood-forming tissues, and related disorders. It covers the physiology of blood components—red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma—and the bone marrow and lymphatic system where hematopoiesis occurs. Clinically, it focuses on diagnosing and managing diseases that affect production, function, or destruction of blood cells and plasma.

Key diagnostic tools include complete blood count and blood cell indices, peripheral blood smear, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and molecular testing. Coagulation studies (PT, aPTT) assess clotting pathways, and transfusion medicine addresses blood products and compatibility. Imaging supports assessment of organ involvement as needed.

Common conditions include various anemias, bleeding disorders such as hemophilia and von Willebrand disease, clotting disorders like venous thromboembolism, and malignant diseases such as leukemias, lymphomas, and myelodysplastic or myeloproliferative neoplasms. Pediatric hematology deals with congenital and inherited hematologic disorders. The field overlaps with immunology and oncology.

Management ranges from supportive care (transfusions, iron supplementation, growth factors) to disease-directed therapies (chemotherapy, targeted therapies, monoclonal antibodies, and cellular therapies). Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a major option for selected disorders. Subspecialties include clinical hematology, hematopathology, transfusion medicine, and pediatric hematology.

Historically, advances such as blood group discovery and bone marrow transplantation have shaped modern practice. Ongoing research in genomics and targeted therapies aims to improve outcomes for blood cancers, inherited anemias, and coagulation disorders.