thalassemia

(noun)

an inherited disorder in which the person produces a high number of red blood cells, but the cells have lower levels of hemoglobin

Related Terms

Examples of thalassemia in the following topics:

  • Transport of Oxygen in the Blood

    • Diseases such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia decrease the blood's ability to deliver oxygen to tissues and its oxygen-carrying capacity.
    • Thalassemia is a rare genetic disease caused by a defect in either the alpha or the beta subunit of Hb.
    • Patients with thalassemia produce a high number of red blood cells, but these cells have lower-than-normal levels of hemoglobin.