Hematology

At Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health, we provide best-in-class treatment for children with blood disorders. Our team includes dedicated pediatric hematologists, advanced practice nurses, social workers and psychologists, and pain and palliative care clinicians. 

We diagnose and treat conditions, including:

Anemia (lack of red blood cells, causing a faint feeling) – hemolytic, iron deficiency, megaloblastic

Bleeding and clotting disorders

Bone marrow failure syndromes (Diamond Black-fan anemia, Fanconi anemia, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome

Destructive cytopenias (ITP immune thrombocytopenia purpura)

Hemophilia

Leukemia

Myelodysplastic syndrome

Neutropenias (low blood count of neutrophils that fight off bacteria and infections)

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Sickle cell disease

Thalassemia (alpha and beta)

Thrombocytopenia(low blood platelets)

Von Willebrand disease

Our Hackensack location is a referral center for the State Newborn Screening for hemoglobinopathy. We follow patients with sickle cell disease and thalassemia through adulthood.

Our services and capabilities include:

Genetic testing and counseling

Hematology registries and clinical trials*

Home care for patients with hemophilia and Von Willebrand disease*

Infusion therapies

On-site laboratory

Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)

State-of-the-art diagnostic imaging services

Stem cell transplantation*

Stem cell transplant for sickle cell anemia

*Service only available at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center

We provide transplantation for patients with sickle cell anemia who have human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matched sibling donors. Our participation in a national study extended the transplant option to patients without matched siblings, but with matched unrelated donors.

A current clinical trial focuses on reduced intensity conditioning regimens for non-malignant diseases, such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.

Pediatric Thrombosis Program

The Thrombosis Program’s mission is to provide a standardized approach for the prevention, evaluation, and treatment of blood clots in children’led by experts in hematological care. Our early detection and treatments, in addition to our participation in national clinical trials, seek to provide children at-risk of, or currently diagnosed with, venous and arterial thrombosis the latest in early detection and evidence-based treatments. This will include establishing new anticoagulation and diagnostic protocols for children who are higher risk for developing the condition, such as pediatric patients with chronic conditions and those receiving cancer treatments.

Support

We provide services to reduce difficulties for children, teens and young adults with sickle cell disease and related hemoglobin disorders:

• Community education programs
• Disease education
• Financial counseling
• Genetic counseling
• Patient and family advocacy
• Personal and school counseling
• Public awareness campaigns