Definition

1. Noun:
   • A congenital form of anemia occurring mostly in people of African descent; characterized by abnormal blood cells having a crescent shape: "Drepanocytic anaemia" is a medical term for a specific inherited blood disorder. It is defined by the presence of red blood cells that are abnormally shaped like crescents or sickles, which can block blood flow and cause various health complications.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient was diagnosed with drepanocytic anaemia at birth.
  • Management of drepanocytic anaemia often involves pain relief and preventing infections.
  • Research into new treatments for drepanocytic anaemia is ongoing.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Medical Context: The term is primarily used in formal medical, clinical, or scientific writing and discourse.
  • The study focused on the genetic markers associated with drepanocytic anaemia.

Variants and Related Words

• Sickle-cell anaemia (n): The more common and widely used term for the same condition.
  • Sickle-cell anaemia is another name for drepanocytic anaemia.
• Drepanocytosis (n): A term referring to the condition or the presence of sickle-shaped cells.
• HbSS disease (n): A technical designation for the most common and severe form of this anaemia.

Synonyms

• Sickle-cell disease: A broader term that encompasses all genotypes of the disorder, with "sickle-cell anaemia" being the most severe form.
• Sickling disorder: A more general descriptive term.

Notes on Usage

• Spelling: The British English spelling is "anaemia"; the American English spelling is "anemia". Therefore, "drepanocytic anemia" is the American variant.
• Modern Preference: In contemporary medical and general usage, "sickle-cell anaemia" or "sickle-cell disease" are significantly more common and preferred over "drepanocytic anaemia," which is considered a more technical or historical term.

Noun

1. a congenital form of anemia occurring mostly in blacks; characterized by abnormal blood cells having a crescent shape