Glossary of terms

anemia

a blood disorder caused by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells)

See also Anemia; Cancer (oncology); Children's Memorial Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders; Will thrives thanks to sickle cell expertise

hemophilia (also called a coagulation disorder)

an inherited bleeding disorder caused by low levels, or absence of, a blood protein that is essential for clotting; hemophilia A is caused by a lack of the blood clotting protein factor VIII; hemophilia B is caused by a deficiency of factor IX.

See also Children's Memorial Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders; Hemophilia; Hemophilia and thrombophilia program; A Day's Anatomy - Inside the life of a pediatric resident

platelet function disorders

disorders that keep the blood from clotting normally

See also Children's Memorial Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders

thrombocytopenia

a decrease in the number of circulating platelets (a blood component that promotes clotting)

See also Children's Memorial Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders; Hemophilia and thrombophilia program

von Willebrand disease

the most common of inherited bleeding disorders caused by an abnormality in the von Willebrand factor, which is necessary for platelets to be able to attach themselves to a vein or artery to form a clot to stop bleeding.

See also Children's Memorial Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders; Hemophilia and thrombophilia program; Von Willebrand disease