Hematology Conditions We Treat

If you’re an adult age 21+ with a benign (noncancerous) blood disorder, we’re here for you. Our expert multidisciplinary team provides comprehensive clinical services to help you manage your bleeding issue.

Find a Provider

Find a Location

Conditions We Treat

We treat the full spectrum of common and rare benign (noncancerous) blood disorders, including:

Acute hepatic porphyria — A rare inherited disorder in which the body abnormally metabolizes hemoglobin, the pigment in blood. This leads to the buildup and excretion of porphyrins in the urine, causing it to appear dark. People with this condition may also experience mental disturbances and extreme sensitivity of the skin to sunlight.
Anemia — Not enough red blood cells. The body needs red blood cells to carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Anemia is common and often easily treated, but sometimes it can become serious.
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) — An autoimmune disease that affects how blood clots. In APS, the immune system makes antiphospholipid antibodies, which cause blood to clot too quickly in veins and arteries. These clots can happen anywhere in the body and may lead to serious problems like heart attacks, strokes, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). During pregnancy, APS can cause miscarriages, pre-eclampsia, small babies, early deliveries, or stillbirths.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA) — A rare disorder that can affect people at any age. In about half of cases, the cause is idiopathic (unknown). It can also happen along with other diseases, like lupus or lymphoma, or be triggered by certain medications, such as penicillin.
Bleeding disorders — Conditions in which the blood doesn’t clot properly. Normally, platelets and special proteins work together to stop bleeding and help injuries heal. If you have a bleeding disorder, your blood may not form clots as it should, which can lead to too much bleeding. These problems can be caused by having too few platelets, abnormal clotting proteins, or issues with blood vessels.
Blood clotting disorders — Problems with how your blood clots. Normally, blood clots help stop bleeding after an injury. If you have a clotting disorder, your blood may not clot enough, causing too much bleeding, or it may clot too easily, even without an injury. These disorders can be inherited or develop later from another illness or injury.
Genetic blood disorders — Inherited bleeding disorders that share the inability to form a proper blood clot. Symptoms include extended bleeding after injury, surgery, trauma, or menstruation.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) — A condition in which red blood cells are destroyed and block the filtering units in the kidneys. While it most commonly results from an infection with E. coli bacteria, HUS can also be triggered by other bacteria, viruses, certain medications, or inherited genetic mutations. Often developing suddenly in children, with symptoms resembling a stomach virus, HUS can become more severe, potentially causing acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, or even kidney failure.
Hemophilia — Usually an inherited disorder caused by mutations in certain genes, hemophilia is a condition in which your blood doesn't clot properly because your body doesn't have enough of a certain kind of clotting factor. This makes it harder to stop bleeding after a cut, during surgery, or even after a fall.
Iron-deficiency anemia — A condition in which your body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells because it lacks iron. Iron helps make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in your blood. Without enough iron, your body can’t make enough red blood cells, leading to symptoms like tiredness and weakness.
Leukocytosis — Means more white blood cells than normal. This can happen because of infections, inflammation, cancer, or inherited conditions. The number of white blood cells considered “high” can change depending on your age or if you’re pregnant. Sometimes, certain types of white blood cells increase for specific reasons — like eosinophils for allergies or parasites, and lymphocytes for viral infections or autoimmune diseases.
Leukopenia — Also called neutropenia, leukopenia means fewer white blood cells than normal, especially of a type called granulocytes. This can happen if your body makes fewer white blood cells or destroys them faster than usual. Common causes include infections, certain medicines, cancer, and some immune system problems.
Pernicious anemia — Anemia means your body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen. Pernicious anemia is a type that happens when your body can’t absorb vitamin B12 from food because it’s missing a special protein from the stomach called intrinsic factor. Without vitamin B12, your body can’t make enough red blood cells.
Polycythemia vera (PV) — A rare bone marrow disorder that mainly causes the body to make too many red blood cells. Sometimes, white blood cells and platelets are also higher than normal. It’s often linked to a change in a gene called JAK2V617F, but this gene change isn’t inherited.
Sickle cell anemia — Genetic red blood cell disorder that changes normal, round red blood cells into cells shaped like crescent moons. Sickled cells can get stuck in blood vessels and block them, which stops oxygen from getting through. That can cause a lot of pain and can harm organs, muscles, and bones.
Thalassemia — Inherited blood disorder that causes your body to make less hemoglobin or abnormal hemoglobin. Hemoglobin helps red blood cells spread oxygen through your body. Low levels of hemoglobin may cause anemia, an illness that makes you feel weak and tired. Severe anemia can damage organs and lead to death.
Thrombocytopenia — Low number of platelets in the blood. Platelets are the cells that help blood to clot. If you don't have enough of them, your blood can't clot well. That means it's harder to stop bleeding.
Thrombocythemia — High platelet count not caused by another health condition. This condition is sometimes called primary or essential thrombocythemia.
Thrombocytosis — High platelet count caused by another disease or condition. This condition is often called secondary or reactive thrombocytosis. Thrombocytosis is more common than thrombocythemia.
Von Willebrand disease — Bleeding disorder caused by the lack of or abnormal form of a certain protein in the blood that is needed to help platelets stick together in clotting. People with this condition have longer blood clotting times, so they bleed longer than others after a cut or surgery.

Rare hematological diseases we treat

Castleman disease (CD) — A rare immune system disorder that causes enlarged lymph nodes and inflammation. It can affect a single lymph node or more than one. Common symptoms include fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, and swollen lymph nodes. Treatment depends on the type of disease. You may need surgery or targeted therapies such as drugs that block protein expression to control the overactive immune response.
Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) — A rare, inherited immune disorder. It occurs when immune cells called phagocytes can't properly kill certain bacteria and fungi. This can lead to frequent, severe infections (like pneumonia, skin abscesses, and lung infections). It can also cause inflammatory masses called granulomas in organs like the lungs, liver, or gut. CGD is caused by genetic mutations that affect the NADPH oxidase enzyme. It requires lifelong management with antibiotics, antifungals, and sometimes interferon-gamma to control infections and inflammation. Treatments like bone marrow transplant offer potential cures.
Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) — CAD is a rare autoimmune condition. It occurs when the immune system makes IgM antibodies called cold agglutinins. These antibodies cause red blood cells to clump together and break down (hemolysis) in cold temperatures. This can lead to anemia, fatigue, weakness, and bluish discoloration of fingers and toes (Raynaud’s phenomenon). Management includes avoiding cold exposure, treating any underlying cause in secondary CAD, and using medications like rituximab. Primary CAD is often idiopathic. This means it occurs without a known cause.
Eosinophilia — Eosinophilia is an increased level of eosinophils, or white blood cells found in blood or tissues. It often indicates the body’s reaction to allergies, parasitic infections, certain cancers, or primary bone marrow disorders. If severe and untreated, it can cause inflammation and damage to organs, such as the skin, lungs, gut, and heart. Symptoms vary and may include rashes, itching, asthma, or digestive problems. It can be serious but is often manageable with treatment aimed at the underlying cause.
Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) — ECD is a rare blood disorder. It occurs when your body makes too many white blood cells called histiocytes. ECD can affect multiple organs and cause various symptoms or even no symptoms. This can make diagnosis tricky. Current treatments include targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy.
Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) — Hairy cell leukemia is a rare, slow-growing blood cancer. It occurs when the bone marrow produces abnormal B-cells with "hairy" projections, crowding out healthy blood cells. It often causes fatigue, frequent infections, easy bruising, and an enlarged spleen or liver. HCL is diagnosed in adulthood, often in men. It is characterized by the BRAF V600E gene mutation in most cases. Though it's rarely cured, treatment typically brings high remission rates and long-term survival.
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) — Also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu Syndrome, HHT is a rare genetic disorder. It causes fragile, abnormal blood vessels (telangiectasias and AVMs). Symptoms include frequent, severe nosebleeds that can cause bleeding in the brain, lungs, liver, and gut. This can result in anemia or serious complications like stroke. Early diagnosis and management are needed to prevent life-threatening issues.
Iron overload syndromes — These occur when the body absorbs and stores too much iron. This causes harmful buildup in organs like the liver, heart, pancreas, and joints. It can lead to serious problems such as diabetes, liver cirrhosis, heart failure, and arthritis. Iron overload conditions may be hereditary (primary hemochromatosis). They can also develop from other causes, such as repeated blood transfusions or disorders like thalassemia (secondary iron overload). Symptoms often appear in middle age. They include fatigue, joint pain, abdominal discomfort, and skin darkening.
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) — LCH is a rare disorder in which the immune system produces too many Langerhans cells, a type of white blood cell. The excess cells build up in tissues, forming tumors and disrupting organ function. LCH often affects the skin, bones, and lungs, but it can affect any organ. It requires treatment like chemotherapy, steroids, or other targeted therapies. Symptoms vary but can include bone pain, skin rashes, swollen lymph nodes, and pituitary gland issues like diabetes insipidus.
Large granular lymphocytic (LGL) leukemia — LGL leukemia is a rare, slow-growing blood cancer. It occurs when too many lymphocytes (large, granular white blood cells) build up in the blood and bone marrow. This leads to low blood counts (anemia, neutropenia) and frequent infections. Often affecting older adults, LGL involves either T-cells (T-LGL) or natural killer (NK) cells (NK-LGL). Doctors often treat it with immunosuppressants.
Mast cell diseases — These include conditions like mastocytosis and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). In mastocytosis, mast cells build up too much. In MCAS, they release inflammatory chemicals at the wrong times. Both conditions can disrupt body functions. They can cause symptoms such as flushing, itching, fatigue, stomach pain, or even anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction). These disorders can affect the skin, digestive system, nervous system, and more. Treatment usually focuses on antihistamines and lifestyle changes to control mast cell activity and reduce symptoms.
Porphyria — A group of rare genetic disorders that can affect the skin, nervous system, liver, and other organs. It occurs because of abnormalities in the body’s creation of the molecule heme. Symptoms may come on suddenly. They include severe abdominal, chest, back, arm, or leg pain; gastrointestinal problems; muscle weakness; rapid heart rate; anxiety, and skin symptoms. Treatment focuses on managing acute attacks and symptoms through medications, pain management, and avoiding triggers.
Rare lipid storage disorders (LSDs) — These are inherited conditions in which fats (lipids) build up inside cells. This buildup can damage organs over time. Common examples include Gaucher, Niemann-Pick, Tay-Sachs, and Fabry diseases. These disorders often result from missing or faulty enzymes. They can cause a wide range of symptoms, from nerve problems to enlarged organs. Newer treatments, such as enzyme replacement therapy, offer hope — especially for conditions like Gaucher and Fabry disease.
Rare thrombotic disorders — These are inherited or acquired conditions that cause excessive blood clotting. They include problems with natural anticoagulants (such as antithrombin or protein C/S deficiencies), mutations in clotting factors (like factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, or factor X deficiency), platelet disorders (such as sticky platelet syndrome), and systemic conditions like paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) or heparin-Induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). These disorders increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The complications can often occur in unusual locations or at younger ages.
Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) — RDD is a rare, noncancerous condition. It is characterized by the growth of too many histiocytes, a type of white blood cell. It usually causes painless swelling in the lymph nodes of the neck. It can also affect the skin, sinuses, brain, and other organs. This can lead to symptoms like fatigue, fever, and weight loss. RDD often goes away on its own, but severe cases may need treatment. Treatment may include steroids, chemotherapy, or surgery.
Systemic mastocytosis (SM) — A rare condition in which too many abnormal mast cells accumulate in tissues such as the skin, bone marrow, liver, and digestive tract. This buildup often leads to symptoms like flushing, itching, diarrhea, and bone pain, due to excess histamine release. SM is usually linked to a mutation in the KIT gene. It is classified into two main types: non-advanced (indolent) and advanced forms. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, as there is often no cure.

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2026-05-20.