Adrienne W. Paton is a Hematologist based in Adelaide, SA, Australia. Blood conditions can be scary, especially when they come on quickly or affect other parts of the body too. Dr Paton helps people understand what is going on, and what the next steps might be.
As a hematologist, Dr Paton works with problems in the blood and related systems. This can include anaemia, where the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells, or where blood cells are breaking down too fast. She also looks after people with haemolytic anaemia and low platelets (thrombocytopenia), which can raise the risk of bruising or bleeding.
Some patients need support for haemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). This is a condition where tiny blood vessels can get damaged, and it may lead to issues with blood counts and kidney function. Dr Paton also deals with different forms listed under D-Minus and D-Plus haemolytic uremic syndrome, and helps guide care during flare-ups when things change fast.
There are also rarer blood clotting and bleeding conditions that can be linked to clotting proteins. Dr Paton works with congenital afibrinogenaemia and familial hypofibrinogenaemia, where fibrinogen levels are low. At times, this can affect clotting and can be part of a longer-term plan that doctors build together.
In addition to blood-focused issues, some referrals mention other body problems that sit alongside these conditions. For example, ascites (fluid build-up in the belly) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may come up in care plans where more than one system needs attention. Dr Paton may be part of a team approach to help coordinate what’s happening.
Dr Paton also sees patients with infection-related concerns that can affect the blood and the body overall, such as pneumonia, strep throat, pneumococcal meningitis, and asymptomatic bacteriuria. Necrosis is sometimes mentioned in referrals too, and in those cases the goal is to understand the bigger picture and help teams decide on the safest way forward.
Overall, her role is practical and patient-centred. She aims to make the medical side easier to follow, explain results in plain terms, and support ongoing care when the condition is ongoing, changing, or needs careful monitoring.
