Diagnosis of blood diseases in adults
It is sometimes very difficult to detect blood diseases at an early stage, so doctors recommend taking a blood test at least once a year. What are the blood tests, and what can be learned with their help?

According to the WHO classification, blood diseases are not among the most common diseases in the world, however, the statistics do not inspire optimism. For example, in Russia over the past 30 years, the number of people with blood diseases has increased several times, many of which are very dangerous and require urgent medical care.

We talked with fertility doctor Maria Zima about the most common methods for diagnosing blood diseases, and also learned how often you need to take blood tests and what you can learn with their help.

Why and when to check blood

The composition and properties of blood change if a pathological process takes place in the body. Timely diagnosis allows at an early stage to detect blood diseases and malfunctions of other organs and systems. Healthy people should take blood tests in order to identify violations in the body in time and contact specialists. People with diseases of the hematopoietic system require regular examinations to monitor the results of treatment and, if necessary, adjust therapy.

Methods for diagnosing blood diseases

The main components of the hematopoietic system are peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen. Hematological diseases occur when one or more components of this system are affected and are congenital and acquired.1. All blood diseases are divided into three large groups: anemia, hemoblastosis and hemostasiopathies.1. Anemia is accompanied by a decrease in the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood.1. With hemostasiopathies, blood clotting decreases or vice versa increases. Hemoblastoses are tumor pathologies of the lymphatic and hematopoietic systems, such as leukemia and hematosarcoma.1.

There are instrumental and laboratory methods for diagnosing blood diseases. Laboratory tests include hematological and biochemical tests – analyzes that determine the composition of plasma, the amount and condition of blood cells: red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells. Diagnosis of blood diseases usually begins with laboratory tests.

General blood analysis

With the help of a general or clinical blood test, you can evaluate the level of hemoglobin, red blood cells, platelets, ESR, determine the number of leukocytes and the leukocyte formula. The results of the study help to identify specific diseases or pathological conditions of the hematopoietic system, such as anemia, thrombocytopenia and leukemia.

Biochemical analysis of blood

A biochemical blood test provides information about the main indicators of the body, including the state of the hematopoietic system. With its help, the content of ferritin in the blood serum is determined, the low content of which is a characteristic sign of iron deficiency anemia, a common blood disease.

Coagulogram

The coagulogram shows how the coagulation, anticoagulation and fibrinolytic system of the blood works. In particular, according to the results of the study, it is determined whether a person has a tendency to increase the formation of blood clots – blood clots that can clog blood vessels and disrupt normal blood circulation. With low clotting, blood clots form too slowly, which threatens prolonged bleeding during trauma or surgery. With the help of a coagulogram, such hematological diseases as hemophilia and DIC are diagnosed, and the effectiveness of their treatment is also monitored.

Evaluation of hemolysis

The analysis allows you to determine the rate of destruction of erythrocytes – red blood cells, the main carriers of oxygen to all organs and tissues. Physiological hemolysis occurs continuously in our body, and pathological usually occurs under the influence of drugs and hemolytic poisons: lead and arsenic compounds, snake and insect venoms. Hemolysis assessment may be given to patients who have signs of hemolytic anemia due to poisoning or drug use, such as levofloxacin, cephalosporins, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs2.

Assessment of blood coagulation dynamics

The dynamics of blood coagulation is usually checked using a coagulogram and thromboelastography. Thromboelastography allows you to evaluate the rate of formation and dissolution of a blood clot in the laboratory. The study is prescribed for patients with congenital diseases of the hematopoietic system and people who take drugs to increase or decrease blood clotting.

A relatively new research method is the thrombodynamic test. Real-time analysis checks how the clotting system works. A blood sample is placed in a test tube, where a vessel injury is simulated using a biomembrane3. In response to damage, the blood begins to form a fibrin clot – a thrombus.3. This process is recorded by a digital video camera and analyzed by a computer program. As a result, it is possible to evaluate the dynamics of blood coagulation in terms of such parameters as the rate of thrombus formation, the delay in clot growth, the presence of spontaneous thrombus formation.3. The method is used to diagnose coagulation factor deficiency in patients with hemophilia, to assess the effectiveness of anticoagulant therapy, and for other indications.3.

Myelogram

Myelogram is a study of the cellular composition of the bone marrow, the most important hematopoietic organ. In the bone marrow, new blood cells are formed – platelets, leukocytes and erythrocytes.

Material for research is taken from tubular bones, usually the right or left ilium4. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.4, after which the resulting biomaterial is studied under a microscope7. During the study, the cellular composition of the bone marrow and the appearance of the cells are checked, signs of malignant neoplasms are detected4. A myelogram is used to diagnose various blood pathologies – acute and chronic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, lymphogranulomatosis, myeloma4.

Preparing an adult for the diagnosis of blood diseases

The doctor usually tells you in advance how to properly prepare for the examination. Myelogram and other bone marrow studies do not require any preparation. Before donating blood, follow a few recommendations:

  • the last meal should be no later than 8-12 hours before the analysis;
  • 2 hours before the examination, you can not smoke, drink tea, coffee, carbonated and sweet drinks;
  • within 24 hours before the examination, you can not drink alcohol and take certain medications;
  • you can not donate blood immediately after massage and physiotherapy procedures;
  • between blood donation and tests such as ultrasound and x-rays, 5-7 days should pass;
  • an hour before the examination, emotional and physical stress should be excluded.

Some studies are performed at certain times of the day. For example, a blood test for ferritin is taken in the morning before 10.00 am. If the indicators are controlled in dynamics, then the tests must be taken at the same time under the same conditions.

Where to check blood

Blood tests can be done on an outpatient basis and in a hospital. Research is carried out in clinics and hospitals, private medical centers and diagnostic laboratories. General and biochemical blood tests are done almost everywhere. For more specific studies, such as a thrombodynamic test, special equipment is required, which is not available in all medical institutions.

Popular questions and answers

Our expert, reproductive specialist Maria Zima, answers popular questions from readers.

What signs should prompt a person to test the blood?

– Any deterioration in well-being is a reason to take at least a general blood test. Possible diseases of the hematopoietic system are indicated by symptoms such as weakness and fatigue, weight loss, pale skin, causeless bruising, bruising and bleeding (for example, from the gums without brushing your teeth)124. Alarming symptoms also include a perversion of taste and smell, a desire to eat something inedible.1. Some hematological diseases are accompanied by fever, persistent pain in the bones and joints, tachycardia, headaches and dizziness.1.

Which doctor checks the blood?

– Deciphering blood tests can be done by a therapist and any narrow specialist: a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, a neurologist. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the hematopoietic system is the task of a hematologist or oncohematologist when it comes to malignant pathology.

How often should blood be checked?

Healthy people should donate blood once a year as part of a medical examination, which, unfortunately, is neglected by many. People with diseases of the hematopoietic organs are recommended to be diagnosed as often as recommended by the attending physician.

Sources:

  1. Fundamentals of hematology. Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education Rostov State Medical University. Tutorial. 2017 https://clck.ru/asgqr
  2. Causes and methods of detection of hemolytic anemia caused by drugs. Russian biotherapeutic journal. July 02.07.2014, XNUMX Article FGBOU RONTS im. Blokhin, GBOU VPO First Moscow State Medical University. Sechenov. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/prichiny-vozniknoveniya-i-metody-obnaruzheniya-gemoliticheskoy-anemii-vyzvannoy-lekarstvennymi-preparatami/viewer
  3. An innovative thrombodynamic test is a fundamentally new method for studying the hemostasis system. A. A. Melnik, Ph.D. n. Journal “Aspects of Laboratory Diagnostics” https://www.health-ua.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/3-4.pdf
  4. Research methods in the pathology of the blood system. Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases, FSBEI HE IvGMA, Candidate of Medical Sciences Abrashkina E. D. 2020. https://clck.ru/asNcU
  5. Pathophysiological analysis of hemograms and assessment of typical disorders of the blood system. Belarusian State Medical University. Department of Pathological Physiology. Educational and methodical manual, 2011. https://clck.ru/asgjt
  6. Clinical syndromes in blood diseases. Belarusian State Medical University. Department of propaedeutics of internal diseases. Educational and methodical manual 2017. https://clck.ru/asNbH
  7. hematological diseases. Part 1. Dictionary for patients. St. Petersburg City Clinical Hospital No. 31. https://spbsverdlovka.ru/patsientam/biblioteka-patsienta/patienth/page-33.html

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