sickle cell anemia

Definition of sickle cell anemia

: a chronic inherited anemia that occurs primarily in individuals of African, Mediterranean, or southwest Asian ancestry who are homozygous for the gene controlling hemoglobin S and that is characterized especially by episodic blocking of small blood vessels by sickle cells

— called also sickle cell disease

Examples of sickle cell anemia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As one of the many benefits of that outreach, Lattimer said Lerner helped establish sickle cell anemia testing in the schools. — Graydon Megan, chicagotribune.com, "Dr. Herbert Lerner, Hyde Park pediatrician active in civil rights and health care issues, dies at 95," 2 Oct. 2019 There was the time a student with sickle cell anemia approached him in 2017 upset about news that the government was making cuts to the National Institutes of Health. — Perry Stein, Washington Post, "This D.C. teacher of the year just won $7,500. He’s giving it back to his students.," 8 Nov. 2019 Working to solve sickle cell anemia Manny Johnson Jr. needed a change. — BostonGlobe.com, "1. Reconnecting ACL tears," 28 Sep. 2019 Today, his method is used to detect genetic mutations that can lead to diagnoses of diseases, like sickle cell anemia; analyze ancient sources of DNA, like bones; assist in obtaining crime scene evidence; and determine paternity. — New York Times, "Kary B. Mullis, 74, Dies; Found a Way to Analyze DNA and Won Nobel," 15 Aug. 2019 One of the most promising, for example, is studying whether gene editing can treat, and effectively cure, blood disorders such as beta thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. — Time, "CRISPR Gene Editing Is Being Tested in Human Patients, and the Results Could Revolutionize Health Care," 6 Aug. 2019 Risk factors for strokes include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and sickle cell anemia. — Rebecca Maitland, Houston Chronicle, "Stroke: Know symptoms, signs for aid," 19 July 2019 Once inside the car, the teen who is home-schooled due to his severe asthma and sickle cell anemia, said police questioned him about the whereabouts of a gun. — Tanya A. Christian, Essence, "Brooklyn Teen Arrested, Charged After Being Cleared In Nearby Incident," 18 June 2019 There are 21 conditions today that can qualify a patient for medical marijuana – including cancer, chronic and severe or intractable pain and sickle cell anemia. — Laura Hancock, cleveland.com, "State board to review Ohio medical marijuana for people with anxiety, autism spectrum disorder," 10 June 2019

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

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Last Updated

30 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Sickle cell anemia.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sickle%20cell%20anemia. Accessed 13 December 2019.

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More Definitions for sickle cell anemia

sickle cell anemia

noun

variants: also sickle cell disease

Medical Definition of sickle cell anemia

: a chronic anemia that occurs in individuals (as those of African or Mediterranean descent) who are homozygous for the gene controlling hemoglobin S and that is characterized by destruction of red blood cells and by episodic blocking of blood vessels by the adherence of sickle cells to the vascular endothelium which causes the serious complications of the disease (as organ failure)