Margaret T. Lee, MD

Margaret T. Lee, MD cares for children with blood disorders, such as anemias (sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and iron deficiency), bleeding (including idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura [ITP], hemophilia, and von Willebrand disease), and clotting disorders (such as deep vein thrombosis).

Dr. Lee's main research focus is sickle cell disease. She is seeking new ways to prevent the complications of sickle cell disease, particularly those affecting the brain and lungs. Currently, she is investigating whether high-dose vitamin D therapy can reduce respiratory complications in children with sickle cell disease. In addition to its well-known role in maintaining healthy bones, vitamin D has been shown to have anti-infective and anti-inflammatory effects that may benefit patients with sickle cell disease. Dr. Lee is also the site investigator for the National Institutes of Health-funded series of multicenter clinical trials on stroke prevention in children with sickle cell anemia (STOP 1 and 2, SWiTCH, and TWiTCH).

Dr. Lee's other area of interest is a rare group of diseases called vascular anomalies. There is relatively little known about these disorders, and the care of patients with vascular anomalies requires a multidisciplinary group of physicians from several specialties (dermatology, surgery, cardiology, neurology, and hematology/oncology)-all of whom are available at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. Hematologists play a role in the medical treatment of vascular tumors and the supportive care of clotting and bleeding complications that are associated with some types of vascular malformations. Dr. Lee is an active participant in the Vascular Anomalies Group at NYP/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, as well as the Vascular Anomalies Special Interest Group of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, which is looking at novel therapies for vascular anomalies and their complications.