Pediatric Hematology Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
central line-associated bloodstream infection
A serious complication in immunocompromised pediatric hematology patients with central venous catheters. Often abbreviated as CLABSI.
hemoglobinopathy
Inherited disorder affecting hemoglobin structure or production, including sickle cell disease and thalassemia.
hemolytic anemia
Anemia caused by premature destruction of red blood cells, common in pediatric genetic disorders.
hemolytic-uremic syndrome
A condition characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury, often followi...
hemophilia A
An X-linked bleeding disorder caused by deficiency or dysfunction of coagulation factor VIII, resulting in prolonged ble...
hemosiderin
Iron storage protein complex that accumulates in tissues when iron stores are excessive, particularly relevant in chroni...
hemosiderosis
Iron overload condition resulting from repeated blood transfusions or increased iron absorption.
hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin
A benign genetic condition where fetal hemoglobin continues to be produced at high levels beyond infancy.
hereditary spherocytosis
An inherited disorder affecting red blood cell membrane proteins, causing cells to become spherical and prone to hemolys...
Howell-Jolly bodies
Nuclear remnants visible as small, round, densely staining inclusions in red blood cells, indicating splenic dysfunction...
hydroxyurea
Medication used to reduce painful crises and complications in pediatric sickle cell disease.
hyperhemolysis syndrome
A severe complication of blood transfusion in sickle cell disease where both transfused and native red blood cells are r...
hyperleukocytosis
An extremely high white blood cell count, typically >100,000/μL, that constitutes a medical emergency due to risk of leu...
hypersplenism
Overactive spleen causing destruction or sequestration of blood cells, resulting in cytopenias despite normal or increas...
immune thrombocytopenic purpura
An autoimmune disorder characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia due to antiplatelet antibodies causing increased plate...
iron overload
Excessive accumulation of iron in body tissues, commonly occurring in chronically transfused pediatric patients with tha...
juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia
A rare pediatric blood cancer characterized by overproduction of myeloid and monocytic cells, primarily affecting childr...
kernicterus
Severe neurological damage caused by excessive bilirubin deposition in the brain, a potential complication of hemolytic...
Kleihauer-Betke test
Laboratory test measuring fetal hemoglobin distribution in red blood cells, used to diagnose hereditary persistence of f...
L-glutamine
Oral amino acid supplement that reduces frequency of pain crises and acute chest syndrome episodes in sickle cell diseas...
Langerhans cell histiocytosis
A rare disorder involving abnormal proliferation and accumulation of dendritic cells, presenting with varied manifestati...
mean corpuscular volume
A measure of the average size of red blood cells, expressed in femtoliters, used to classify anemias in pediatric patien...
median survival
The time point at which 50% of patients in a study group remain alive. A key prognostic measure in pediatric hematology-...
methemoglobin
An altered form of hemoglobin containing ferric iron that cannot effectively carry oxygen, potentially causing cyanosis...
minimal residual disease
Small number of leukemic cells remaining after treatment that are undetectable by standard microscopy but can be measure...