Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation - Memorial Ankara Hospital

About the Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at Memorial Ankara Hospital

The Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at the Memorial Ankara Hospital offers the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients with various diseases of the blood and hematopoietic system. The department's specialists successfully carry out autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplants, which in some cases are the only effective methods for the treatment of hematological diseases. When performing the procedure, the doctors observe all current clinical protocols, as well as the standards of the JACIE European organization, which accredits clinics specializing in this type of treatment. The competent doctors of the department develop individual and the most effective treatment regimens for each patient, including drug therapy using innovative medicines, antibody therapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and bone marrow transplantation. Medical care is provided by highly qualified doctors and nurses who underwent a strong academic background in the area of their specialization. They apply all their knowledge and experience, as well as the technical resources of the medical facility in order to cure patients with both simple common diseases and especially complex pathologies. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Ferit Avcu.

The primary focus of the department's clinical practice is the treatment of blood malignancies. The department's doctors quite often admit patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas for treatment. The first stage in the diagnostics of Hodgkin's lymphoma is a histological examination of the lymph node after its removal. This is followed by CT scanning and bone marrow biopsy. The treatment regimen is developed for each patient individually, taking into account the stage of the disease, the severity of its course, as well as prognostic factors. Chemotherapy and irradiation are enough for a complete cure at the initial stages of the disease, while the patients with advanced stages of cancer require particularly intensive treatment with a combination of several types of therapy. In the case of a recurrence of Hodgkin's lymphoma, the department's specialists resort to high-dose chemotherapy and autologous (patient's own) stem cell transplantation. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are also quite common in the department’s clinical practice. These include about 30 diseases, which differ in their nature, rate of progression and symptoms, and therefore the department's hematologists pay special attention to high-quality diagnostics, which necessarily includes immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and molecular techniques. All subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are treated with chemotherapy. In rare cases, it is possible to provide treatment only with antibiotics, without chemotherapy. The department's doctors have a wealth of experience and professional skills for the most accurate determination of the subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which affects further treatment regimen.

The department's medical team also successfully treats patients with such malignant pathologies as multiple myeloma, leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, myeloproliferative diseases. In addition, the department admits patients with benign pathologies. The therapy of aplastic anemia is of particular interest to the department's doctors.

The department has an excellent reputation in bone marrow transplantation, which is the most effective method in the fight against malignant hematopoietic diseases, including multiple myeloma, lymphomas, acute and chronic leukemia. In some cases, bone marrow transplants are also used for the treatment of aplastic anemia. The department's specialists perform both autologous bone marrow transplantation (transplantation of the patient's own stem cells after their proper processing) and allogeneic transplantation (stem cell transplantation from related and unrelated donors). The department's doctors perform bone marrow transplantation using innovative technique, which does not require any surgical manipulations. The procedure involves the extraction of donor material using apheresis and its transplantation through the vascular access. Bone marrow cells have special biological properties, thanks to which they independently enter the bone marrow and begin the production of blood cells there. A decisive factor in the success of the procedure is the monitoring of the patient at the stage of activation of the transplanted bone marrow cells. During this period, the patient is at risk of developing infectious processes, anemia and bleeding, so he needs proper care. It is also crucial to prevent the rejection of the bone marrow. The department's doctors regularly demonstrate excellent results of bone marrow transplantation, because they have huge experience, strictly observe hygienic standards, and also have perfect technical infrastructure adapted for bone marrow transplantation. 

The department's key clinical focuses include:

• Diagnostics and treatment of malignant hematopoietic diseases
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
  • Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
  • Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
  • Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
  • Myeloproliferative disorders
• Diagnostics and treatment of benign hematopoietic diseases
  • Acquired and hereditary anemias
  • Thalassemia
  • Haemophilia
  • Von Willebrand disease
  • Blood clotting disorders (coagulopathy)
• Diagnostics and treatment of other blood diseases and diseases of the hematopoietic system