Definition of thalassemia
: 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
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The strongest risk factors are liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV and thalassemia, a rare blood disorder.
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Origin and Etymology of thalassemia
New Latin, from Greek thalassa sea + New Latin -emia
Medical Dictionary
thalassemia
Medical Definition of thalassemia
: 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
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See words that rhyme with thalassemia Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thalassemia
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