hemoglobinuria: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareTechnical / Medical
Quick answer
What does “hemoglobinuria” mean?
The presence of free haemoglobin in the urine, typically indicating medical conditions causing the breakdown of red blood cells.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The presence of free haemoglobin in the urine, typically indicating medical conditions causing the breakdown of red blood cells.
A clinical sign, not a disease itself, characterised by red or dark urine due to haemoglobin released from lysed red blood cells. It's a symptom of various underlying pathologies like haemolysis, infections, or toxic reactions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'haemoglobinuria' (UK) vs. 'hemoglobinuria' (US). The UK spelling follows the British convention for 'haemoglobin'.
Connotations
Identical technical meaning and clinical severity in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both dialects, confined to medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hemoglobinuria” in a Sentence
Patient + presents with + hemoglobinuriaHemoglobinuria + is + caused by + conditionCondition + results in + hemoglobinuriaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hemoglobinuria” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The patient began to haemoglobinurise following the toxic exposure.
- The condition can haemoglobinurise acutely.
American English
- The patient began to hemoglobinurize following the toxic exposure.
- The condition can hemoglobinurize acutely.
adjective
British English
- The haemoglobinuric episode was documented.
- A haemoglobinuric crisis requires immediate attention.
American English
- The hemoglobinuric episode was documented.
- A hemoglobinuric crisis requires immediate attention.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical and biological research papers, case studies, and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used in general conversation.
Technical
The primary context. Used in clinical diagnosis, laboratory reports, and specialist doctor-patient communication.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hemoglobinuria”
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hemoglobinuria”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hemoglobinuria”
- Misspelling: 'hemoglobinurea' (confusing '-uria' with '-urea', which relates to urea).
- Pronouncing the 'g' in 'globin' as hard /g/ instead of soft /ɡ/.
- Using it as a standalone disease name rather than a symptom.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a clinical sign or symptom indicating an underlying disease process that causes red blood cell destruction.
Hemoglobinuria is free haemoglobin pigment in urine (from lysed cells), making urine red and clear. Hematuria is intact red blood cells in urine, often making it cloudy or speckled.
Yes, significant hemoglobinuria often causes urine to appear dark red, brown, or cola-coloured.
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a named rare blood disorder, but hemoglobinuria can also occur in sepsis, burns, or after strenuous exercise ('march hemoglobinuria').
The presence of free haemoglobin in the urine, typically indicating medical conditions causing the breakdown of red blood cells.
Hemoglobinuria is usually technical / medical in register.
Hemoglobinuria: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhiːmə(ʊ)ˌɡləʊbɪˈnjʊərɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhiːmoʊˌɡloʊbɪˈnʊriə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: HEMO (blood) + GLOBIN (the protein) + URIA (in urine) = the blood protein haemoglobin appearing in the urine.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable; a literal, clinical term.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary indicator of hemoglobinuria?