thalassemia

noun

thal·​as·​se·​mia ˌtha-lə-ˈsē-mē-ə How to pronounce thalassemia (audio)
: any of a group of inherited disorders of hemoglobin synthesis (such as Cooley's anemia) that are marked by mild to severe hypochromic and microcytic anemia, result from the partial or complete failure in production of one or more globin chains, and tend to occur especially in individuals of Mediterranean, African, or southeastern Asian ancestry
sometimes used with a prefix (such as alpha-, beta-, or delta-) to indicate the hemoglobin chain affected
see beta-thalassemia
thalassemic adjective or noun

Examples of thalassemia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Like many other people with beta thalassemia, Shelby would need transfusions once every three weeks, seemingly for the rest of her life. Brittany Trang, STAT, 13 Dec. 2023 Here’s a profile of a brave 7-year-old undergoing a grueling treatment for beta thalassemia in Philadelphia. Stat Staff, STAT, 28 Dec. 2023 As in the alpha thalassemia trial, however, Ayla’s health was still fragile — without a dose of the enzyme every week, her disease would progress. Megan Molteni, STAT, 21 Feb. 2024 By allowing scientists to alter specific parts of the human genome, CRISPR opens up a way to correct or work around diseases with genetic components like sickle cell or beta thalassemia. Robert Hart, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Don’t miss Brittany Trang’s compelling story about seven-year-old Shelby Campbell’s life — and her family’s — while being treated for beta thalassemia with gene therapy. Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 13 Dec. 2023 People with life-threatening beta thalassemia need blood transfusions every three to five weeks and other medications throughout their lifetime. WIRED, 16 Nov. 2023 In the clinical trial of 54 patients with transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia, 42 patients have been in the trial long enough to determine efficacy. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 Nov. 2023 In 1986, the number of babies born with beta- thalassemia dropped to zero. Krithika Varagur, Harper's Magazine, 10 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thalassemia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek thalassa sea + New Latin -emia

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thalassemia was in 1932

Dictionary Entries Near thalassemia

Cite this Entry

“Thalassemia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thalassemia. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

thalassemia

noun
thal·​as·​se·​mia
variants or British thalassaemia
: any of a group of inherited hypochromic anemias and especially Cooley's anemia controlled by a series of allelic genes that cause reduction in or failure of synthesis of one of the globin chains making up hemoglobin and that tend to occur especially in individuals of Mediterranean, African, or southeastern Asian ancestry
sometimes used with a prefix (as alpha-, beta-, or delta-) to indicate the hemoglobin chain affected

called also Mediterranean anemia

see alpha-thalassemia, beta-thalassemia

More from Merriam-Webster on thalassemia

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