Blood Lies -- Research Summary | Medical News and Health Information

“Blood Lies” is our other story dealing with proper diagnosis, where Michael Lamposta, M.D., a clinical pathologist from Vanderbilt, has formed a team of physicians, clinical pathologists and lab experts to break down blood disorders, figuring out what’s wrong with patients when other doctors can’t. Also save some time to review our In-Depth Doctor’s Interview with Scott W. Wolfe, M.D. from New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Wolfe explains how he helps patients restore function in their hands by transferring and using certain tendons and muscles in new ways.


Blood Lies -- Research Summary

BACKGROUND: Child abuse is the physical, sexual or emotional mistreatment or neglect of a child. In the United States alone, there are more than three million reported cases of child abuse every year. However, Dr. Michael Laposata believes up to one in every hundred child abuse cases could actually be misdiagnosed. An incorrect diagnosis of child abuse can occur in children suffering minor accidental trauma who also have undiagnosed bleeding disorders. (SOURCE: National Institute of Health)



THE WRONG DIAGNOSIS: Steve Smith was charged with child abuse after his infant was wrongly diagnosed with Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). SBS is a form of inflicted head trauma that occurs when someone violently shakes a baby or small child. SBS is often fatal and can cause severe brain damage that could result in lifelong disability. Up to half of deaths related to child abuse are reportedly due to SBS. The injuries associated with SBS include retinal hemorrhages, multiple fractures of the long bones, and bleeding in the brain. (SOURCE: www.kidshealth.org)



THE REAL DIAGNOSIS: Steve's baby was later diagnosed with Von Willebrand disease (VWD), which is a bleeding disorder. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, VWD affects the blood's ability to clot. If your blood doesn't clot, you can experience heavy bleeding after an injury. As a result, that aforementioned bleeding can damage your internal organs. In addition, in some rare cases – it can cause death. With VWD, you either have low levels of a certain protein in your blood, or the protein doesn't work the way it is supposed to. VWD occurs in about 1 out of every 100 to 1,000 people. The disease is genetic and can be inherited from either parent. In fact, a man or woman with VWD has a 50 percent chance of passing the gene on to his or her child.



ABOUT THE DOCTOR: Dr. Michael Laposata is the executive vice chairman for the Department of Pathology at Vanderbilt University Hospital and the director of clinical laboratories. Dr. Laposata's clinical expertise is in the field of blood coagulation, with a special expertise in the diagnosis of hypercoagulable states. (SOURCE: American Association for Clinical Chemistry)


FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Craig Boerner/Media Relations
Vanderbilt University
Craig.boerner@vanderbilt.edu


Blood Lies -- Research Summary | Medical News and Health Information



Blood Lies | Medical News and Health Information
Blood Lies | Medical News and Health Information

New Tendons Restore Hands -- In-Depth Doctor's Interview | Medical News and Health Information
New Tendons Restore Hands -- In-Depth Doctor's Interview | Medical News and Health Information


If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marsha Hitchcock at mhitchcock@ivanhoe.com.