4 Healthcare Innovations Specialist clinics 2


Promotional Content • Saturday 3 July 2021


Diagnosis and treatment of anaemias and iron metabolism disorders


Professor John Porter and his colleagues specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of inherited and acquired anaemias, as well as disorders of iron metabolism


A


naemias cause insufficient oxygen-carrying


the blood, resulting from of


lowered levels of haemoglobin in red cells. Numerically, the most impor- tant inherited anaemias, both in the UK and internationally, are the haemoglobin disorders — namely thalassaemias and sickle cell disor- ders. Severe forms of thalassaemias require lifelong blood transfusion, causing iron overload and severe tissue damage. Tis can be minimised by careful removal of iron overload with iron chelation therapy, in which internationally recognised expertise is offered. Management is complex and requires expert monitoring of iron overload and its effects on the heart, endocrine system and fertility, as well as for unintended effects of iron chelators. Curative therapies include the option of bone marrow transplantation from a matched rela- tive in carefully selected patients. More recently, the first thalassaemia patients in the UK have been success- fully treated with gene therapy, rendering them free of transfusion requirement. Expertise is also offered in sickle cell disease, which is a devas- tating and often painful inherited anaemia that’s particularly frequent


Te most important inherited anaemias, both in the UK and internationally, are the haemoglobin disorders; namely thalassaemias and sickle cell disorders


in patients of African descent and is now the commonest genetic disorder in the UK. Expertise in non-curative treatment is offered, involving drugs


capacity in


that improve the characteristics of the patients’ own red cells or red cell exchange therapy, where these are ‘swapped’ with donor red cells using exchange transfusion. Curative ther- apies with bone marrow transplant or gene therapy may also be appro- priate in selected cases of sickle cell disease. Te group also has expertise in anaemias associated with insuf- ficient iron availability for haemo- globin synthesis, as well as a special interest in genetic conditions where excess iron develops in the body, such as haemochromatosis. Professor Porter is an expert in the


treatment of disorders of haemoglobin and iron metabolism, with over 400 peer review research publications in these areas. He has been intimately involved novel


in the development of treatments such as new iron


chelators, novel transfusions, novel monitoring of iron overload and novel curative therapies like gene therapy. He’s the recipient of numerous awards for his work, Society


of


including the British Haematology Medal,


International Bioiron Society Award for excellence in Research and the Lionel Whitby Medal from Cambridge University for his research work on iron chelation.


Why have bunion surgery? H


Bunions affect a joint on the inside of your foot near the big toe. They form a painful bump, which can rub on your shoes


aving bunions (medically termed ‘hallux valgus’) is often blamed on shoes, but is


in fact more often inherited, tending to run through families over gener- ations. Patients commonly experi- ence difficulty in finding comfortable shoes, although for some the problem is purely related to pain. In addi- tion, other toes on the same foot can change shape over time as a result of the bunion, which can themselves rub on footwear. Pain or discomfort while wearing shoes has an effect on your comfort while at work, your ability to exercise, as well your general health and wellbeing. Bunions can often be problem-free,


in which case no treatment is needed. Sometimes pain or rubbing from bunions can be managed through changing your shoes, toe spacers and


bunion splints. Commonly, however, these don’t improve things enough, in which case you may need to consider surgery. Surgery


to correct bunions is


thought of as unreliable, painful and needing a long recovery. Advances in bunion surgery mean this no longer needs to be the case. Mr Dawe performs modern bunion


correction surgery, which gener- ally allows walking from the day of the operation. Tere’s no need for plaster, and most patients will have minimal pain. Te procedure can now be performed without the need for a general anaesthetic and both feet can be treated on the same day, thus mini- mising recovery time. If you’re suffering with pain in your


foot or ankle, you should consider booking an appointment with him to


Surgery to correct bunions is thought of as unreliable, painful and needing a long recovery. Advances mean this no longer needs to be the case


discuss your problem. Tere are several different conditions that are similar to a bunion and various treatments may be available, some of which are non-surgical. You’ll be able to estab- lish the correct diagnosis and explore your options for treatment in order to select those that best fit with your individual circumstances.


ABOUT THE EXPERT edwarddawe.com Bilateral bunions, before surgery Six weeks after surgery


Nuffield Chichester T: 01243 753022 BMI Goring Hall T: 01903 953201 Oving Clinic T: 01243 773167


Mr Edward Dawe is a consultant orthopaedic foot and ankle specialist based in Sussex. He offers face-to- face and virtual consultations for patients nationwide.


For enquiries, please contact Teresa Macdonald T: 020 7679 6221 / 0753 5679957 E: t.macdonald@ucl.ac.uk


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