Hematology is the study of blood and how it relates to health and disease (“Blood Disorders”). Hematologists study blood disorders, what causes them, and how to prevent, treat, and cure them (“Blood Basics”). Advances in this field have helped increase the quality of life in people who suffer from blood disorders. For example, CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia) used to be treated with chemotherapy, which kills rapidly dividing cells, both healthy and diseased. Because of studies in hematology, CML patients can be cured much more quickly and easily using imatinib, a “smart” drug that only targets cells with the mutation causing the disease. Additionally, hemophilia patients used to need a trip to the hospital for several days for large doses
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In the 12th century, Albucasis, an Arab physician, wrote about a family in which all of the males died of prolonged bleeding from minor injuries. In 1803, Dr. John Conrad Otto, a physician in Philadelphia wrote about how certain families had bleeding problems. Dr. Otto also acknowledged how the disease was hereditary and more common in males. “Hemophilia” was first coined in a description of the disease by Hopff at the University of Zurich in 1828 ("The History of …show more content…
This can cause major damage if untreated or if it happens in great frequency. Sometimes, bleeding can start for no clear reason; this is called a spontaneous bleed. People suffering from hemophilia call a bleeding episode a “bleed” and can feel when one happens ("How Blood Works in a Person With Hemophilia"). People with hemophilia need to infuse clotting factors very frequently; depending on which factor they need and which product they use, this ranges from weekly, daily, hourly, and within minutes. When new products enter the market, it can sometimes be difficult for patients of hemophilia to decide to switch products. Patients must weigh cost, the possible benefits of the new treatment, and the risk of switching compared to the current treatment (Clement, "New Factor Concentrates, The Future Is
In the 12th century, Albucasis, an Arab physician, wrote about a family in which all of the males died of prolonged bleeding from minor injuries. In 1803, Dr. John Conrad Otto, a physician in Philadelphia wrote about how certain families had bleeding problems. Dr. Otto also acknowledged how the disease was hereditary and more common in males. “Hemophilia” was first coined in a description of the disease by Hopff at the University of Zurich in 1828 ("The History of …show more content…
This can cause major damage if untreated or if it happens in great frequency. Sometimes, bleeding can start for no clear reason; this is called a spontaneous bleed. People suffering from hemophilia call a bleeding episode a “bleed” and can feel when one happens ("How Blood Works in a Person With Hemophilia"). People with hemophilia need to infuse clotting factors very frequently; depending on which factor they need and which product they use, this ranges from weekly, daily, hourly, and within minutes. When new products enter the market, it can sometimes be difficult for patients of hemophilia to decide to switch products. Patients must weigh cost, the possible benefits of the new treatment, and the risk of switching compared to the current treatment (Clement, "New Factor Concentrates, The Future Is