Rare conditions require skillful care. Doctors at Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida understand the intricacies of rare blood disorders and are constantly working to find better ways to treat these diseases.

The highly skilled hematopathologists at Miami Cancer Institute are experienced in diagnosing these conditions. They use the most advanced diagnostic methods to provide accurate results, helping you get the right treatment quickly.

What are rare blood disorders?

Blood disorders interrupt the normal production of blood cells by causing the body to make abnormally shaped blood cells or too many of one or more than one type of blood cell. These disorders affect the body in many ways.

Rare blood disorders are not as common as other blood disorders. Though they are rare, specialized care is available.

What are the types of rare blood disorders?

Rare blood disorders include:

  • Histiocytosis. This describes a group of diseases that causes the body to produce too many histiocytes – a type of white blood cell.
  • Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). This disease causes the bone marrow to make abnormal red blood cells that are destroyed by the immune system.
  • Myeloproliferative diseases. This group of disorders causes the bone marrow to produce too many white blood cells, red blood cells or platelets.

What are the risk factors for rare blood disorders?

Smoking may increase your risk for one type of histiocytosis called Langerhans cell histiocytosis, but most types of histiocytosis have no known risk factors.

The only known risk factor for PNH is previous aplastic anemia.

Risk factors for myeloproliferative diseases include:

  • Long-term exposure to petrochemicals.
  • Long-term exposure to electrical wiring.
  • Exposure to high levels of radiation, such as a nuclear bomb.
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