thalassemia

noun thal·as·se·mia \ ˌtha-lə-ˈsē-mē-ə \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

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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thalassemic

play \ˌtha-lə-ˈsē-mik\ adjective or noun

Recent Examples of thalassemia from the Web

On Monday night, Celgene and Acceleron said their partnered drug luspatercept met all primary and secondary endpoints in a Phase 3 clinical trial of patients with transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia.

— adam feuerstein, STAT, "Celgene is perking up. Here’s what needs to happen for the momentum to continue," 10 July 2018
The results: Seven of the eight beta-thalassemia patients no longer need chronic blood transfusions and all have normal hemoglobin levels.

— adam feuerstein, STAT, "New Bluebird data show promising benefits for gene therapy, if they last," 15 June 2018
This type of gene disruption — called non-homologous end joining — is being used in sickle-cell and thalassemia trials.

— Fox News, "Futuristic gene-editing technology may cause cancer," 13 June 2018
Between 60% and 80% of beta-thalassemia patients require regular red blood cell transfusions, which have serious side effects such as iron toxicity.

— sarah toy, WSJ, "Gene Therapy Shows Promise in Patients with a Blood Disorder," 19 Apr. 2018
Aliyana has sickle beta plus thalassemia, a form that is often considered milder.

— cassie owens, Philly.com, "This Bucks County teen isn't letting sickle cell stop her pageant dreams," 17 May 2018
Most people with severe anemia from thalassemia require red blood cell transfusions every two to three weeks.

— jacqueline howard, CNN, "Gene therapy helps patients avoid blood transfusion," 18 Apr. 2018
Cesar was diagnosed at birth with thalassemia, a blood disease.

— rachelle krygier, Washington Post, "Venezuela faces a terrible new crisis: A critical shortage of blood," 8 Mar. 2018
The new study involved base editing experiments in cells from beta-thalassemia patients and human embryos. Cloned human embryos were generated in a lab using a technique called nuclear transfer.

— jacqueline howard, CNN, "Scientists edit gene for blood disease in human embryos," 29 Sep. 2017

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Origin and Etymology of thalassemia

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1932

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

thalassemia

noun thal·as·se·mia

variants: or British thalassaemia play \ˌthal-ə-ˈsē-mē-ə\

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