thalassemia

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

Definition of THALASSEMIA

: any of a group of inherited disorders of hemoglobin synthesis affecting the globin chain that are characterized usually by mild to severe hemolytic anemia, are caused by a series of allelic genes, and tend to occur especially in individuals of Mediterranean, black, or southeast Asian ancestry; especially : cooley's anemia

— thal·as·se·mic \-mik\ adjective or noun

Origin of THALASSEMIA

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

First Known Use: 1932

Rhymes with THALASSEMIA

academia, hyperemia, septicemia

Medical Dictionary

thalassemia

noun thal·as·se·mia

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 beta-thalassemia