drepanocytic anemia
- noun
- /ˌdrɛpənoʊˈsɪtɪk əˈniːmiə/
- Specialized
- The patient was diagnosed with drepanocytic anemia after presenting symptoms of fatigue and frequent pain crises.
Examples
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Recent advances in treatment have improved life expectancy for those with drepanocytic anemia.
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Genetic counseling is recommended for individuals at risk of passing drepanocytic anemia to their children.
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Many children with drepanocytic anemia face health challenges.
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The doctor diagnosed her with drepanocytic anemia last week.
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The patient was diagnosed with drepanocytic anemia after presenting symptoms of fatigue and frequent pain crises.
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Recent advances in treatment have improved life expectancy for those with drepanocytic anemia.
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Genetic counseling is recommended for individuals at risk of passing drepanocytic anemia to their children.
Synonyms
An inherited blood illness in which red blood cells become crescent shaped, causing low red blood cell count and pain
A blood condition passed from parents that makes red blood cells crescent-shaped and causes pain
An inherited blood disease in which red blood cells become crescent-shaped and break early, causing pain and tiredness
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.