erythroblastosis

[ ih-rith-roh-bla-stoh-sis ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. the presence of erythroblasts in the blood.
2. Also called erythroblastosis fe·talis [fi-, tal, -is], this condition in the fetus or newborn, usually caused by an Rh incompatibility between mother and baby.

erythroblastosis

/ ɪˌrɪθrəʊblæˈstəʊsɪs /

noun

1. the abnormal presence of erythroblasts in the circulating blood
2. Also callederythroblastosis fetalis an anaemic blood disease of a fetus or newborn child, characterized by erythroblasts in the circulating blood: caused by a blood incompatibility between mother and fetus

Other Words From

• e·ryth·ro·blas·tot·ic [ih-rith-roh-bla-, stot, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of erythroblastosis¹

First recorded in 1930–35; erythroblast + -osis

Example Sentences

But their second, born last year, suffered from a condition called erythroblastosis fetalis, which destroyed his red blood cells, leaving him severely anemic with an accumulation of toxic substances in his tiny body.

From Time Magazine Archive

Those with more serious cases of erythroblastosis fetalis suffer from the presence in the blood of too many erythroblasts, or immature red blood cells.

From Time Magazine Archive

From the machine came a startling fact: of 137 infants with erythroblastosis who got the Rh-negative blood of male donors, 27 died; of 42 who got women's blood, not one died.

From Time Magazine Archive

When such a woman conceives an Rh-positive child, there is a 1-in-30 chance that the child's blood may create a dangerous reaction in the mother's blood �with the result that the child, if it lives to be born, will have a dangerous disease called erythroblastosis fetalis, character ized by anemia and jaundice.

From Time Magazine Archive

Unless something was done quickly, the baby would probably die of erythroblastosis in a few hours.

From Time Magazine Archive