refractory anemia
- noun
- /rɪˈfræk.tər.i əˈniː.mi.ə/
- Specialized
:
anemia refractaria
- The patient's refractory anemia made her dependent on regular blood transfusions for survival.
Examples
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A diagnosis of refractory anemia was made after several treatments failed to improve his condition.
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Doctors are researching new therapies for refractory anemia, as standard treatments are often ineffective.
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Many patients suffer from refractory anemia.
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Is refractory anemia common in older adults?
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After multiple unsuccessful treatments, the doctor confirmed the diagnosis of refractory anemia.
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Due to her refractory anemia, she needs blood transfusions every few weeks to stay healthy.
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The lack of effective treatment options for refractory anemia has led to increased research funding.
How Severe
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward adjective+noun composition: 'refractory' (resisting treatment) modifies 'anemia' (low red blood cells), so the combined meaning — anemia that does not respond to standard therapy — is directly derivable from the constituents. This is a regular medical descriptive pattern found across languages, making it transparent to a learner who knows both words.
Etymology
Refractory anemia uses refractory to mean 'stubborn' and anemia to mean low red blood cells. Imagine an illness that 'refuses' the usual treatment, like a stuck door that will not open, so refractory anemia means a type of anemia that does not get better with standard care and often needs blood transfusions.