thalassemia

[ thal-uh-see-mee-uh ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. a hereditary form of anemia, occurring chiefly in people of Mediterranean origin, marked by the abnormal synthesis of hemoglobin and a consequent shortened life span of red blood cells.

thalassemia

/ thăl′ə-sē′mē-ə /

1. Any of a group of inherited forms of anemia occurring chiefly among people of Mediterranean descent, caused by faulty synthesis of part of the hemoglobin molecule

Word History and Origins

Origin of thalassemia¹

1932; < Greek thálass ( a ) sea (alluding to the Mediterranean Sea; the anemia was first reported among children in Mediterranean countries) + -emia

Example Sentences

Beta thalassemia mainly affects people of Mediterranean, south Asian, south-east Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds.

From BBC

Another genetic analysis found that women with an inherited blood disorder called beta thalassemia, which produces chronically high levels of GDF15, can protect against morning sickness.

From Salon

Similarly, women with the inherited blood disorder beta thalassemia, which causes them to have naturally very high levels of GDF15 prior to pregnancy, experience little or no nausea or vomiting.

From Science Daily

The researchers found the opposite when they asked 20 pregnant people with beta thalassemia, a blood disorder associated with high GDF15 levels, about their pregnancy symptoms: Just 5% of this group reported nausea or vomiting.

From Science Magazine

That changed in mid-November when UK regulators approved the first CRISPR-based therapy, which is designed to cure sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.

From Science Daily