Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of blood disorder: "Refractory anemia" is a medical term for a group of anemic conditions where the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy red blood cells. The key characteristic is that the anemia does not improve ("is refractory to") standard treatments like iron supplements or vitamins, and often requires blood transfusions for management. It is typically not caused by another primary disease like kidney failure or vitamin deficiency.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient was diagnosed with refractory anemia and began a schedule of regular blood transfusions.
  • Refractory anemia is often considered a type of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), where blood cell production is disordered.

Advanced Usage

• In medical classification: The term is often used within the broader category of "myelodysplastic syndromes" (MDS). A specific subtype is "refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts" (RARS).
  • The biopsy confirmed it was refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts, a specific MDS subtype.

Variants and Related Words

• Refractory anaemia (n): The British English spelling.
• Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) (n): The broader group of bone marrow disorders to which refractory anemia often belongs.
• Refractory cytopenia (n): A related condition involving low counts of multiple blood cell types (not just red cells) that does not respond to usual treatment.

Synonyms

• Treatment-resistant anemia: A more descriptive synonym emphasizing the lack of response to therapy.
• Idiopathic refractory sideroblastic anemia: A more specific term for one form of the condition.

Related Phrases

• Refractory to treatment: A phrase describing a condition that does not respond to standard therapies.
  • The anemia proved refractory to treatment with erythropoietin.

Notes

• Important Distinction: "Refractory anemia" in modern medical contexts is usually not a standalone diagnosis but a description of anemia that is part of a myelodysplastic syndrome. It is defined by its lack of response to treatment and the absence of another primary causative disease.

Noun

1. any of various anemic conditions that are not successfully treated by any means other than blood transfusions (and that are not associated with another primary disease)