Plasminogen Deficiency Specialists and Care Management

Support From Different Specialties

The initial point of care within the health system may vary from case to case. Patients with congenital Plasminogen Deficiency (PLGD) may require input from multiple specialists, involving different areas of medical expertise. This is because of the broad age range when the condition can arise and the variety of symptoms and side effects that can result from this deficiency.¹

Coordinated care is needed from healthcare professionals in various disciplines.²,³

The Clinical Treatment Team Behind You

In addition to family doctors, pediatricians, ophthalmologists, or dentists who may recognize the first signs of the disorder, the clinical treatment team involved in caring for and seeing patients may include pediatric hematologists, adult hematologists, otolaryngologists, oral surgeons, pulmonologists, and other specialty groups.¹,⁴,⁵ Geneticists may also be involved in the testing and counseling of patients. ⁶

If you are pregnant and think you could be a carrier or if you already have a child diagnosed with congenital PLGD, it is also important to alert your obstetrician.

Ophthalmologist

An ophthalmologist is a physician (doctor of medicine, MD, or doctor of osteopathy, DO) who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and visual system and in the prevention of eye disease and injury.⁷

Hematologist
Hematology is the subspecialty of internal medicine that focuses on the care of patients with disorders of the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic systems.⁸

Otolaryngologist
Otolaryngologists (pronounced oh/toe/lair/in/goll/oh/jist) are physicians trained in the medical and surgical management and treatment of patients with diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, throat (ENT), and related structures of the head and neck. They are commonly referred to as ENT physicians.⁹

Oral Surgeon
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the specialty of dentistry that includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetics aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.¹⁰

Pulmonologist
A pulmonologist is a physician who specializes in pulmonology (pulmonary disease), which deals with lung and respiratory tract disease.¹¹

References:
1. National Center for Biotechnology Information, US National Library of Medicine, 2015. Genetic Testing Registry: Plasminogen deficiency type I. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gtr/tests/527642/overview. Accessed May 14, 2016.
2. Schuster V, Hügle B, Tefs K. Plasminogen deficiency. J Thromb Haemost. 2007;5(12):2315-2322.
3. Bateman J B, Pettit T H, Isenberg S J, Simons KB. Ligneous conjunctivitis: an autosomal recessive disorder. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 1986;23:137-140.
4. Data on file. Prometic Life Sciences Inc.
5. Shoseyov D. Congenital plasminogen deficiency with respiratory complication. PowerPoint presentation at Hadassah Medical Center Jerusalem: Jerusalem, Israel.
6. National Institues of Health, U.S National Library of Medicince, 2012. Genetics Home Reference: Congenital plasminogen deficiency. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/congenital-plasminogen-deficiency. Accessed May 14, 2016.
7. The American Academy of Ophthalmology. What are the differences between ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians? Digital J Ophthalmol. 2016. http://www.djo.harvard.edu/site.php?url=/patients/pi/439. Accessed May 13, 2016.
8. American College of Physicians. Hematology: the discipline. https://www.acponline.org/about-acp/about-internal-medicine/subspecialties/hematology. Accessed May 14, 2016.
9. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. What is an otolaryngologist? http://www.entnet.org/content/what-otolaryngologist. Accessed May 14, 2016.
10. American Dental Association. Speciality definitions: definitions of recognized dental specialities. http://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/careers-in-dentistry/dental-specialties/specialty-definitions. Accessed May 14, 2016.
11. Radiology Society of North America, Inc. RadiologyInfo.org. Pulmonologist. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/glossary/glossary1.cfm?gid=1047. Accessed May 14, 2016.