1 ataxia-telangiectasia | Definition of ataxia-telangiectasia
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

ataxia-telangiectasia

noun
atax路​ia-tel路​an路​gi路​ec路​ta路​sia | \ -藢te-藢lan-j膿-藢ek-藞t膩-zh(膿-)蓹 How to pronounce ataxia-telangiectasia (audio) , -t膿-, -t蓹-\

Definition of ataxia-telangiectasia

: an inherited systemic disorder marked especially by progressive pathological changes in the nervous system resulting in loss of motor coordination and by increased susceptibility to cancer especially of lymphoid tissue

First Known Use of ataxia-telangiectasia

1957, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for ataxia-telangiectasia

ataxia-telangiectasia

noun

Medical Definition of ataxia-telangiectasia

: an inherited, systemic disorder that is marked especially by progressive pathological changes in the nervous system resulting in loss of motor coordination, telangiectasias especially on the eyes, ears, and cheeks, and immunodeficiency leading to increased susceptibility to cancer especially of lymphoid tissue Many children with ataxia-telangiectasia die from respiratory failure or cancer by their teens or early 20s.— Bill Minutaglio, The Dallas Morning News, 22 Dec. 1994 Defects in such a multifunctional protein might explain many of the clinical manifestations seen in patients with ataxia鈥搕elangiectasia.— Michael Kastan, The New England Journal of Medicine, 7 Sept. 1995

Note: Ataxia-telangiectasia is inherited as a recessive autosomal trait requiring that both parents pass on a copy of the defective gene on a chromosome other than a sex chromosome.

More from Merriam-Webster on ataxia-telangiectasia

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ataxia-telangiectasia

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!