haptoglobin

noun

hap·to·glo·bin | \ ˈhap-tə-ˌglō-bən

Definition of haptoglobin

: any of several forms of an alpha globulin found in blood serum that can combine with free hemoglobin in the plasma and thereby prevent the loss of iron into the urine

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If more blood is being destroyed than usual, the level of haptoglobin drops. — Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, "Why Wouldn’t the Lump Under the Patient’s Jaw Go Away?," 18 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'haptoglobin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for haptoglobin

borrowed from French haptoglobine, shortened from earlier prosaptoglobine, from Greek prosáptein "to fasten, attach to" (from pros- pros- + háptein "to fasten") + French -o- -o- + globine globin — more at haptics

Note: Term introduced by the French biochemist Michel Polonovski (1889-1954) and the endocrinologist Max-Fernand Jayle (1913-78) in "Sur la préparation d'une nouvelle fraction des protéines plasmatiques, l'haptoglobine," Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des sciences, tome 211 (juillet-décembre, 1940), pp. 517-19.

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The first known use of haptoglobin was in 1941

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haptoglobin

noun

hap·to·glo·bin | \ ˈhap-tə-ˌglō-bən

Medical Definition of haptoglobin

: any of several forms of an alpha globulin found in blood serum that can combine with free hemoglobin in the plasma and thereby prevent the loss of iron into the urine