OHSU Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center

Kristina Haley examines a toddler who reaches out and touches one of her instruments as he is being held by another woman.
Kristina Haley, director of the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center at OHSU, is also a pediatric hematologist who often takes part in patient care.

The Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center focuses on comprehensive care for bleeding and clotting disorders.

  • We specialize in rare bleeding and clotting conditions that affect less than 1% of Americans.
  • We provide lifelong care for children and adults with chronic (ongoing) or acute (sudden or severe) needs.
  • We have a pharmacy that sells clotting factor replacement medications at a discount.
  • We have experience treating families with inherited bleeding and clotting disorders.
  • We are part of a close, welcoming community of people with bleeding and clotting conditions.

What makes us different

We provide:

Team care. You’ll have access to experts in:

  • Hemophilia
  • Von Willebrand disease
  • Platelet disorders
  • Thrombosis
  • Other bleeding and clotting disorders

Help with planning. We can help you create:

  • An emergency plan to treat bleeding and get help when you need it.
  • A treatment plan for dental care.
  • A physical therapy plan to stay active and reduce joint pain.
  • A plan to control menstrual bleeding.

Help with medication. Our pharmacy can make sure your medications are working for you. If you can’t get clotting factor near your home or have an urgent need for it, we’ll work with you on a plan for getting it.

Access to other specialists. We partner with OHSU specialists in dental care, pain control, gynecology (women’s health), orthopedics, genetics and other areas.

Links to the latest research. We are one of eight regional centers in the U.S. that focus on care for people with bleeding and clotting disorders. We take part in studies and registries that help us expand and improve care. We may be able to offer you access to promising new treatments. Learn more about our research.

For patients

Please call 503-494-8716:

  • For an appointment
  • For help getting a referral

Locations

Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, seventh floor
700 S.W. Campus Drive
Portland, OR 97239

OHSU Hemophilia Pharmacy
707 S.W. Gaines St.
Portland, OR 97239

Free parking for patients and visitors

Refer a patient

Conditions we treat

Hemophilia

What it is: In people with hemophilia, blood lacks a protein — called clotting factor — that forms clots. This can cause internal or heavy bleeding from an injury or surgery.

Symptoms:

  • Frequent and prolonged bleeding that can interrupt school or work
  • Many large or deep bruises
  • Joint pain or swelling
  • Bleeding into muscles

Treatment: Most often, clotting factor is given into a vein after a bleeding incident or to prevent bleeding during a procedure. It may also be given to prevent bleeding in general (prophylactically).

Complications can include:

  • Damage to joints and muscles
  • Inhibitors (blood proteins called antibodies) that keep clotting factor from working

Von Willebrand disease

What it is: In this disorder, blood either lacks a protein called von Willebrand factor or the protein doesn't work right. 

Symptoms:

  • Easy bruising
  • Frequent nosebleeds
  • Heavy and long menstrual periods
  • Rarely, bleeding into joints or muscles

Treatment: Symptoms like bruising don't require treatment. For other symptoms, treatments depend on the type and severity of Von Willebrand disease. Options include:

  • Nose sprays and shots with a synthetic hormone
  • Clotting factor
  • Medications called antifibrinolytics that stabilize blood clots
  • Medications to reduce menstrual bleeding

Complications can include:

  • Anemia (too few healthy red blood cells)
  • Too much bleeding during or after delivery of a baby

Thrombosis

What it is: A blood clot that isn’t supposed to be in a blood vessel. Often, the clot reduces or stops blood flow. Clots can form because of:

  • Genetic changes in proteins that help stop clotting
  • Some health conditions

Symptoms:

  • Leg swelling or pain
  • Swollen and sore veins
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain

Treatment:

  • Anticoagulants, also called blood thinners
  • Treating conditions that can lead to clots, such as diabetes and heart disease
  • Exercising and not smoking to reduce risk of clots

Complications can include:

  • Stroke
  • Heart attack
  • Serious breathing problems
  • A clot in the lungs that blocks blood flow (pulmonary embolism)

Other bleeding and clotting disorders

We also diagnose and treat:

  • Antithrombin deficiency
  • Bleeding related to connective tissue disorders
  • Factor V Leiden
  • Factor VII and other rare factor disorders
  • Heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
  • Other coagulation disorders
  • Platelet disorders
  • Protein C deficiency
  • Protein S deficiency
  • Prothrombin gene mutation
  • Thrombophilia

Team care

In most cases, we need a doctor’s referral. We provide:

  • Ongoing care
  • Urgent and same-day care
  • New patient evaluations

You’ll get care from:

  • Hematologists, who specialize in blood disorders
  • A nurse practitioner
  • Registered nurses
  • Physical therapists, to help with joint and muscle health
  • Social workers, to help with insurance and other nonmedical issues
  • Medical assistants
  • A genetic counselor, to help with tests and family planning
  • An education specialist, to help with school needs
  • Pharmacists

When younger patients become adults, they switch doctors but stay with their nurses and other team members. Some of our providers have cared for generations of the same family.

Meet our team.

Clinics

Comprehensive clinic

We see patients at least yearly for:

  • A medical exam
  • Review of any bleeding episodes
  • Updates to your treatment plan
  • Training in how to give yourself clotting factor at home
  • Lab tests and referrals to specialists, if needed
  • Meetings with nurses, physical therapists, social workers and other team members

Outreach clinics

We care for patients in Eugene, Medford, Redmond and other places in Oregon, depending on needs.

Specialty clinics

Hematology-Gynecology Clinic: OHSU hematologists (blood specialists) and gynecologists (women’s health specialists) treat patients who have abnormal bleeding or clotting.  

Spots, Dots and Clots Clinic: OHSU hematologists (blood specialists) and gynecologists (women’s health specialists) treat patients ages 12 to 18 who:

  • Have unusually heavy periods.
  • Are at risk of blood clots.

Pediatric Stroke Program: OHSU doctors, social workers and physical therapists treat children in this program. The most common type of stroke (thrombotic) happens when a clot (thrombus) blocks blood flow to the brain.

Support services

We provide:

  • Insurance help
  • A summer camp for children with bleeding disorders, and their siblings

Resources

Patients: Call 503-494-8716