Pathol.
a chronic hereditary blood disease, occurring primarily among Africans or persons of African descent, in which abnormal hemoglobin causes red blood cells to become sickle-shaped and nonfunctional, characterized by enlarged spleen, chronic anemia, lethargy, weakness, joint pain, and blood clot formation. Also called sicklemia /sik'euh lee"mee euh, sik lee"-/ .
[ 1925-30 ]