hemochromatosis

American

[hee-muh-kroh-muh-toh-sis, hem-uh-] / ˌhi məˌkroʊ məˈtoʊ sɪs, ˌhɛm ə- /

noun

Pathology.

a rare metabolic disorder characterized by a bronzed skin, cirrhosis, and severe diabetes, caused by the deposit in tissue, especially of the liver and pancreas, of hemosiderin and other pigments containing iron.

Other Word Forms

hemochromatotic adjective

Etymology

Origin of hemochromatosis

First recorded in 1895–1900; hemo- + chromat- + -osis. The variant bronze diabetes was first recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

People with roots in the Outer Hebrides and north west Ireland face the highest known risk of developing hemochromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes the body to absorb and store too much iron.

From Science Daily

Teddy Nicholls inherited a rare condition called neonatal hemochromatosis which can cause fatal liver failure in newborns without treatment.

From BBC

"It can actually increase your risk of heart disease, which is the effect of hemochromatosis or iron overload, and it can cause symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, chronic fatigue, itchy skin, leg swelling."

From Salon

Two rare disorders came up immediately: hemochromatosis — an inherited disease in which patients are born without the chemicals needed to get rid of excess iron.

From New York Times

Since 2002, he’s had hemochromatosis, a genetic disorder in which iron builds up in the body, afflicting organs and joints.

From Reuters

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023