hemophilia
noun
Note: Hemophilia is inherited as an X-linked recessive trait in which the mother must pass on a copy of the defective gene to a male child, and more rarely, both parents must pass on copies of the defective gene to a female child.
see hemophilia a, hemophilia b
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The dreaded disease known as hemophilia is the result of an inherited gene, and almost always strikes boys rather than girls (though mothers may pass the gene to their sons). Since the blood lacks an ingredient that causes it to clot or coagulate when a blood vessel breaks, even a minor wound can cause a hemophiliac to bleed to death if not treated. Bleeding can be particularly dangerous when it's entirely internal, with no visible wound, since the person may not be aware it's happening. Queen Victoria transmitted the hemophilia gene to royal families all across Europe; the hemophilia of a young Russian prince played a part in the downfall of the Russian czars. Today, hemophiliacs take drugs that stop the bleeding by speeding coagulation, and hemophiliac life expectancies in developed countries are almost as long as the average.
Examples of hemophilia in a Sentence
Elaine Chen, STAT, 26 July 2024
The researchers have already shown that CAHS can preserve human blood clotting factor VIII, a biologic commonly used to treat hemophilia and cases of extreme bleeding on the battlefield.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 10 July 2024
In the 20th century, the secret hemophilia of the heir to the Russian empire had a hand in driving the Romanov dynasty to oblivion.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
Her proposal to study fetal cell and gene therapies for hemophilia in sheep — a step toward clinical trials — had been rejected by the NIH.
—Megan Molteni, STAT, 21 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hemophilia 
Dictionary Entries Near hemophilia
Cite this Entry
“Hemophilia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hemophilia. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hemophilia
noun
Medical Definition
hemophilia
nounNote: Hemophilia is inherited as an X-linked recessive trait in which the mother must pass on a copy of the defective gene to a male child, and more rarely, both parents must pass on copies of the defective gene to a female child.
see hemophilia a, hemophilia b compare von willebrand disease
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