Polycythemia
Polycythemia Yves D. Pastore C. Philip Steuber Polycythemia is an excess of erythrocytes in relation to blood volume (i.e., erythrocytosis). As blood volumes and hemoglobin levels vary with age, the…
Hypoplastic and Aplastic Anemias
Hypoplastic and Aplastic Anemias Paul L. Martin HYPOPLASTIC ANEMIAS The hypoplastic anemias (i.e., pure erythrocyte anemias, aregenerative anemias) constitute an uncommon group of congenital or acquired blood disorders characterized by…
Hemolytic Anemias
Hemolytic Anemias Paul L. Martin After release from the bone marrow, mature, nonnucleated erythrocytes survive for 100 to 120 days in the circulation. In the steady state, 1% of the…
Hemoglobinopathies and Thalassemias
Hemoglobinopathies and Thalassemias Paul L. Martin The genetic, molecular, and biochemical characteristics of human hemoglobin are well known. The genes for the polypeptide chains of hemoglobin are located on chromosomes…
Abnormalities of Rate and Rhythm
Abnormalities of Rate and Rhythm Bryan Cannon NORMAL SINUS RHYTHM The sinus node is located in the upper portion of the heart at the junction of the superior vena cava…
Nutritional Anemias
Nutritional Anemias Paul L. Martin The important nutritional anemias result from dietary deficiencies of iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12. Deficiencies of other nutrients such as vitamins B6 and E…
Therapeutic Cardiac Catheterization
Therapeutic Cardiac Catheterization Charles E. Mullins Although very few procedures and/or specific devices are “approved” for use in pediatric and congenital heart lesions in the United States by the Food…
Rheumatic Fever
Rheumatic Fever Galal M. El-Said Yasser M. K. Baghdady Howaida G. El-Said Rheumatic fever (RF) is a delayed, nonsuppurative sequela to upper respiratory infection with group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. It…
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Rheumatic Heart Disease Galal M. El-Said Yasser M. K. Baghdady Howaida G. El-Said Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), like rheumatic fever, is seen more commonly in areas where the standard of…
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy Jeffrey A. Towbin Neil E. Bowles Cardiomyopathies in children are major causes of morbidity and mortality, and since the late 1980s, limited improvements in outcome have been reported. However,…
