hemophilia

[ hee-muh-fil-ee-uh, -feel-yuh, hem-uh- ]

noun

1. any of several X-linked genetic disorders, symptomatic chiefly in males, in which excessive bleeding occurs owing to the absence or abnormality of a clotting factor in the blood.

hemophilia

/ hē′mə-fĭl′ē-ə /

1. Any of several hereditary coagulation disorders, seen almost exclusively in males, in which the blood fails to clot normally because of a deficiency or an abnormality of one of the clotting factors .

hemophilia

1. A hereditary disease caused by a deficiency of a substance in the blood that aids in clotting. Hemophiliacs can bleed to death even from small cuts and bruises, because their blood has largely lost the ability to clot.

Notes

Queen Victoria of Britain , whose descendants have been kings and queens of several countries in Europe , carried the gene for hemophilia, which has turned up repeatedly in royal families since her lifetime. Her great-grandson, the heir to the throne of Russia , suffered from the disease, and his parents fell under the influence of the monk Grigori Rasputin in hopes of a miraculous cure. The resulting chaos in the government of Russia helped bring on the Russian Revolution and the establishment of the Soviet Union .

Word History and Origins

Origin of hemophilia¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1850–55; hemo-, -philia

Example Sentences

Many of those affected were people with hemophilia, a condition affecting the blood’s ability to clot.

From Seattle Times

At one school attended by children with hemophilia, public health officials gave the children “multiple, riskier” treatments as part of research, the report added.

From Seattle Times

Gene therapy is a promising medical technology: By replacing, altering or introducing new genetic material into a patient's cells, doctors may be able to cure or compensate for genetic diseases, including cystic fibrosis, sickle-cell disease, hemophilia and diabetes.

From Science Daily

Previous research by Boothby's team showed that natural and engineered versions of tardigrade proteins can be used to stabilize an important pharmaceutical used to treat people with hemophilia and other conditions without the need for refrigeration.

From Science Daily

In the 20th century, the secret hemophilia of the heir to the Russian empire had a hand in driving the Romanov dynasty to oblivion.

From Los Angeles Times