Center for Hematology

Overview

We have extensive experience treating patients with all degrees of blood conditions, from those that do not require treatment to those that require long-term and complex treatment. Among the many distinguishing factors of the Center for Hematology is our location within Mass General, which allows for a seamless transition of care in the event that other services and/or specialists are needed. Roughly one-third of blood-related conditions are cancerous or pre-cancerous; if appropriate, these cases can be immediately referred to specialized hematological malignancy teams within the Cancer Center. Other cases, which are not cancer but which still require treatment, monitoring or both, are monitored by the Center for Hematology or referred to other care centers within the hospital.

The Center for Hematology is a full-service facility for all blood disorders, both non-cancerous and cancerous. Our program also offers follow-up and referral within Massachusetts General Hospital for all hematology conditions. These include:

• Anemias
• Anticoagulation problems
• Bleeding disorders
• Clotting disorders
• Hematological complications of pregnancy
• Hemochromatosis
• Hemophilia
• Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT)
• Leukemias
• Lymphomas
• Lysosomal storage diseases
• Myeloproliferative disorders (essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera, myelofibrosis, chronic myeloid leukemia)
• Plasma cell disorders
• Platelet disorders
• Porphyria
• Sickle cell disease
• Thrombosis

Our program has also become renowned for its world-class expertise in the specialized care of the following hematological conditions:

• Platelet disorders: our team has developed novel therapies for patients with low platelet counts, called thrombocytopenia, and conducts clinical trials with a wide range of treatments. Our team has extensive sub-specialized expertise in treating immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
• Reproductive Hematology: Our program is one of a very few in the world that specializes in treating these difficult cases. We have unique collaborations with the high-risk obstetrics clinic at Mass General as well as the pediatric service for hematological conditions in children
• Myeloproliferative disorders: We have specialists devoted to the care of patients with essential thrombocythemia, polythemia vera, myelofibrosis and chronic myeloid leukemia. Basic science research programs funded by the National Institutes of Health are underway in these disorders
• Gaucher disease: Our program treats a large number of patients with Type 1 Gaucher disease and collaborates with specialists in orthopedic surgery and genetics in caring for these patients and advising their families. Research studies with novel treatments for this disorder are currently under way
• Thrombosis and hemostasis disorders: Supported by a large coagulation reference laboratory, our program offers state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment for both common and rare disorders. Clinical studies are underway with novel anticoagulants and in coagulation problems associated with pregnancy or cancer
• Disorders of iron metabolism: Our program treats patients with iron excess, hemochromatosis, as well as individuals with problems of iron deficiency. Research studies and innovative therapies are available for both conditions

Expertise in Diagnosing and Staging Cancers

An accurate diagnosis is crucial to developing a successful treatment plan. The hematopathologists at the Center for Hematology are world renowned for their sub-specialized expertise in the diagnosis of blood diseases. Our specialists have extensive experience identifying even the most rare disorders, and their second opinions are sought by physicians around the country. State-of-the art technology further enhances the capabilities of the pathology department, including:

• Flow cytometry technology that allows for the detection of minimal residual disease
• A broad range of histochemical analyses
• Cytogenetics technologies that examine the chromosomes of cells from samples of peripheral blood, bone marrow, or lymph nodes
• Molecular evaluation techniques of blood and bone marrow cells that deliver more precise diagnoses
• Coagulation laboratory testing to help diagnose coagulation and thrombosis problems

Advanced Medical Therapies

In addition to our expert diagnostic, treatment and evaluation services, our program offers state-of-the-art drug and other therapies, including:

• Blood product (red blood cells, platelets, plasma and coagulation factors) transfusion therapy and specialized blood therapies such as phlebotomy and plasmapheresis
• Coagulation and anticoagulation therapies
• Novel platelet and red cell growth factor treatment
• Novel forms of intravenous iron therapy to treat deficiencies

Multidisciplinary Patient Care

Our program evaluates and manages the full range of blood disorders. Each patient’s care is directed by a single hematologist supported by a multidisciplinary team of specialized physicians and nursing staff, as well as a full range of support services, including social workers and psychiatrists, and nutritionists. Since blood-related conditions are treated almost exclusively with medications and/or transfusion therapy, each patients care team will include:

• Hematopathologists who make timely and accurate pathological diagnoses
• Medical oncologists for patients whose condition is cancerous
• Transfusion Medicine specialists who provide transfusion support and transfusion-related procedures in the treatment of blood disorders
• Clinical pathologists who provide sophisticated laboratory and coagulation testing

Clinical Trials

Our program is committed to improving therapies for blood diseases. With that goal in mind, our physicians and research scientists are involved in or leading numerous clinical trials for novel therapies for several disorders.

Find Clinical Trials for blood disorders.