Definition

Noun: A specific, severe type of anemia characterized by a progressive and chronic course, most commonly occurring in older adults. It is caused by the body's inability to absorb vitamin B12 due to a deficiency of intrinsic factor, a protein normally secreted by the stomach lining.

Usage

This is a medical term used to describe a diagnosed condition. * The patient was hospitalized due to complications from malignant anaemia. * A blood test can confirm a diagnosis of malignant anaemia.

Advanced Usage

• The term "malignant" in this context does not mean cancerous; it is a historical medical term indicating a severe, progressive, and potentially fatal nature if left untreated.
• The condition is now more precisely and commonly referred to as pernicious anemia.

Variants and Related Words

• Pernicious anemia (n): The modern and more frequently used synonym for malignant anaemia.
• Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia (n): A broader category that includes malignant/pernicious anemia as well as other causes of B12 deficiency.

Synonyms

• Pernicious anemia
• Addison's anemia
• Biermer's anemia

Notes on Different Meanings

• Malignant: When used alone, this adjective almost exclusively refers to cancerous tumors (e.g., a malignant tumor). Its use in "malignant anaemia" is a specific historical exception.
• Anaemia/Anemia: This is the general condition of having a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin. Malignant anaemia is a specific type of this general condition.

Noun

1. a chronic progressive anemia of older adults; thought to result from a lack of intrinsic factor (a substance secreted by the stomach that is responsible for the absorption of vitamin B12)