FAQ

Anaemia is a condition, which arises if one has a low haemoglobin or low red cell count.

There are various causes of anaemia. The commonest being deficiency of certain nutrients like iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid. Anaemia can also be due to other systemic medical problems or problem with function of the bone marrow.

Iron deficiency anaemia is a very common. The cause of Iron deficiency needs to be investigated. The treatment of iron deficiency is taking oral iron supplements. People who do not tolerate oral iron can get Iron infusion through the vein.

Thrombosis is formation of a blood clot within a blood vessel. When the clot is formed in the vein its called deep vein thrombosis. The commonest veins affected are the veins of the legs and this is called Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). When the veins of the lungs are affected its called Pulmonary Embolism (PE).

Anticoagulant medications are medications, which thin the blood to prevent blood clot or treat a blood clot, which may be already formed. Heparin and Warfarin are most widely used anticoagulants.
New oral anticoagulants like Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, Apxiaban, are also now available.

Low platelet count is termed as thrombocytopenia. There are several causes of thrombocytopenia, broadly speaking its divided into reduced production or increased destruction. If one has low platelet count severely low, it can cause bleeding or bruising, as platelets are the cells, which help the blood to clot.

High platelet count is termed as Thrombocytosis. One can have high platelet count as a reaction to infection or inflammation. Very rarely condition called Myeloproliferative neoplasm could be the reason. This is a condition in which bone marrow produces excessive number of cells.

Multiple Myeloma is a form of cancer of the white blood cells. The cancerous cells are called Plasma cells, which are produced in excess within the bone marrow in this condition. These cells secrete an abnormal protein (called paraprotein or serum free light chains), which can cause organ dysfunction.

For more information visit: http://www.myeloma.org.uk/

Lymph glands could be enlarged if one has infection or inflammation in that part of body. Rarely it could be due to certain types of cancers like lymphoma. You must contact your doctor if you have persistently enlarged lymph glands.

Lymphoma is the cancer of the lymphatic system or the lymph glands. There are 2 main types of lymphomas, Hodgkin and Non Hodgkin. They are differentiated on the basis of their specific features when seen under microscope. Although the symptoms of both types of lymphomas are similar, the treatment of both is quite different.

For more information visit: http://www.lymphomas.org.uk/