Nonmalignant Blood Disorders Program

Treating benign blood disorders

AHN's approach to treating benign blood disorders is comprehensive and patient-centered. Treatment options vary depending on the specific disorder, its severity, and the patient's overall health. Within the Nonmalignant Blood Disorders Program, we treat blood disorders including:

• Anemia: A condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in weakness and fatigue. This includes anemia both inherited and acquired, such as anemia due to nutritional deficiencies including iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency etc., and anemia due to breakdown of red blood cells, or hemolysis which can be inherited or acquired.
• Disorders of platelets: Thrombocytopenia or low platelets can be due to various causes such, as immune thrombocytopenia in which the immune system destroys platelets. This also includes disorders of platelet function, where the platelets do not work properly.
• Thrombotic microangiopathy: This includes conditions such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and atypical or complement mediated HUS (hemolytic uremic syndrome). All three conditions involve small blood clots forming in small blood vessels. TTP is caused by a lack of a specific enzyme, while aHUS is caused by an overactive immune system (complement system).
• Disorders of bleeding such as von Willebrand disease: A genetic disorder that affects the blood's ability to clot properly due to a deficiency or abnormality of the von Willebrand factor protein.
• Thrombophilia or conditions that increase the risk of blood clots: These can be inherited such as Factor V Leiden mutation, prothrombin gene mutation, and several others, as well as acquired, such as antiphospholipid syndrome. Conditions related to this that we treat include:
  • Thrombophilia or blood clots during pregnancy: Pregnancy increases the risk of blood clots. Women with existing thrombophilic conditions are at a higher risk of blood clots.
  • Recurrent pregnancy loss or pregnancy morbidity due to antiphospholipid syndrome. 

Pregnancy-related blood disorders

These disorders can pose risks to both the mother and the baby if not treated, including increased risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, blood clots, bleeding complications, and fetal growth restriction. Blood disorders that may affect pregnancy include:

• Pregnancy-related anemia: Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia in pregnancy due to increased iron demands. Untreated iron deficiency during pregnancy can cause maternal and fetal complications.
  • At AHN, we have network-wide screening protocols to identify and treat iron deficiency anemia early in pregnancy. This reduces potential complications to mother and baby.
• Gestational thrombocytopenia: Mildly low platelet counts are common in pregnancy due to hemodilution and increased platelet consumption. Usually, it doesn't cause bleeding problems.
• Immune thrombocytopenia in pregnancy: This occurs when your platelet count is lower than that in gestational thrombocytopenia and needs treatment.
• Thrombophilia or blood clots during pregnancy: Pregnancy increases the risk of blood clots. Those with existing thrombophilic conditions are at a higher risk of blood clots.
• Antiphospholipid syndrome: This can cause recurrent pregnancy loss or pregnancy morbidity and increased risk of blood clots.

Benign blood disorders specialists

Nonmalignant blood disorder specialists at AHN focus on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of noncancerous conditions affecting the blood and its components. These specialists have expertise in a wide range of disorders.

Nonmalignant hematology

How to get care

Patients needing immediate care are usually admitted to AHN West Penn Hospital or AHN Allegheny General Hospital where a consultation service is provided. Patients are otherwise seen in the outpatient office in the Mellon Pavilion. Patients with benign hematology disorders can also be seen at AHN Allegheny General Hospital.

Once scheduled, our staff will instruct you on what is needed so that our doctors get access to your medical records.

We also provide telehealth services if you live far from our offices and would like to work with one of our hematologists.

Clinical trials and research

All therapy that is FDA-approved achieved approval based on clinical trials. Thus, patients who participated in these trials were able to receive therapy that was more effective or less toxic than the standard in existence at the time. The Division offers a robust portfolio of clinical trials covering all of our programs.

What is a clinical trial?

Clinical trials are studies that try to answer questions about new ways to treat cancer with medications, radiation, or surgical techniques. Previous trials have shown how new methods of treatment improve survival and quality of life and reduce the risk of cancer returning.

You participate in a clinical trial only if you volunteer to do so and meet criteria for inclusion in the study, and you can stop participating in a trial at any time.

Who can join a clinical trial?

The plan for the trial, called a protocol, explains what the trial will do and how the study will be done. Based on the questions the research is trying to answer, each clinical trial protocol outlines specific criteria necessary to be eligible to join the trial.

Common criteria for entering a trial are:

• Having a certain type or stage of cancer.
• Having received a certain kind of therapy in the past.
• Being in a certain age group.

Federal rules help ensure that clinical trials are run in an ethical manner, with your rights and safety protected. It’s to ensure that you’re not put at increased risk by participating in the trial, and that the results of the study are accurate and meaningful.

Currently active cancer clinical trials

If you would like to participate in a clinical trial and help our innovative team discover groundbreaking medical solutions, ask your doctor if you’re eligible to participate in one. Find currently active clinical trials that are open for participation.

Refer your patient to an AHN specialist

There are two ways for medical professionals, who are not a part of Allegheny Health Network, to refer their patients to an AHN specialist and request their first appointment. You can:

1. Call 412-578-4484 for the Division of Hematology and Cellular Therapy.
2. Go to Find Care to find the right AHN specialist and the most convenient location. Then refer your patient, provide relevant patient details, and request an appointment directly from the doctor's profile. 

For more information about referring your patient to an AHN specialist, read the Independent Physician Referral FAQs.