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drepanocytic anemia

drepanocytic anemia

5.4
A blood disease you are born with in which red blood cells become sickle-shaped and cause tiredness and pain
  • noun
  • /ˌdrɛpənoʊˈsɪtɪk əˈniːmiə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : anemia drepanocítica
  • The patient was diagnosed with drepanocytic anemia after presenting symptoms of fatigue and frequent pain crises.

Examples

  • Recent advances in treatment have improved life expectancy for those with drepanocytic anemia.

  • Genetic counseling is recommended for individuals at risk of passing drepanocytic anemia to their children.

  • Many children with drepanocytic anemia face health challenges.

  • The doctor diagnosed her with drepanocytic anemia last week.

  • The patient was diagnosed with drepanocytic anemia after presenting symptoms of fatigue and frequent pain crises.

  • Recent advances in treatment have improved life expectancy for those with drepanocytic anemia.

  • Genetic counseling is recommended for individuals at risk of passing drepanocytic anemia to their children.

Synonyms

sickle-cell anemia
vsdrepanocytic anemia
  • Specialized
3 4.1

An inherited blood illness in which red blood cells become crescent shaped, causing low red blood cell count and pain

is identical in meaning but gives the formal medical label
sickle-cell disease
vsdrepanocytic anemia
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A blood condition passed from parents that makes red blood cells crescent-shaped and causes pain

focuses on the anemia aspect rather than the wider disorder
crescent-cell anemia
vsdrepanocytic anemia
  • Specialized
7.0

An inherited blood disease in which red blood cells become crescent-shaped and break early, causing pain and tiredness

emphasizes the congenital identity and standard name instead of cell breakdown

Surface Forms

Morphology

drepanocytic + anemia

The adjective 'drepanocytic' is a rare, technical, Greek-derived medical term meaning 'sickle-shaped cells' and is not transparently interpretable by a B1 learner even if they know 'anemia'. Knowing only the common word 'anemia' does not allow inference of the specific sickle-cell meaning, so the overall phrase functions as a specialized idiomatic medical label.

Etymology

Drepanocytic anemia comes from a Greek word for 'sickle' and the word anemia, meaning 'not enough red blood cells'. The name creates a picture of red blood cells bent like a sickle that can block blood flow, so the name explains the disease's main problem.