fetal hemoglobin

noun

: a hemoglobin variant that predominates in the blood of a newborn and persists in increased proportions in some forms of anemia (such as thalassemia)

Examples of fetal hemoglobin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Before birth a fetus with the disease has healthy red blood cells because fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is dominant at that point and is unaffected by the sickle cell mutation. —Ambroise Wonkam, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024

Since the 1990s, clinicians have observed that sickle cell patients with higher levels of fetal hemoglobin tend to live longer. —Charlotte Hu, Vox, 6 May 2024

The procedure can essentially be a cure for many, freeing people from sickle cell’s painful episodes and frequent blood transfusions—and the life-changing treatment is based on Orkin’s research identifying the genes that regulate fetal hemoglobin. —TIME, 2 May 2024

Scientists want to reactivate the effective fetal hemoglobin in adult blood cells. —Amber Dance, Discover Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

fetal hemoglobin

noun

: hemoglobin that consists of two alpha chains and two gamma chains and that predominates in the blood of a newborn and persists in increased proportions in some forms of anemia (as thalassemia)

called also hemoglobin F