Hemorrhagic diathesis is a
medical condition in which a patient is prone to
bleeding much more than normal. This can be the result of a
genetic disease such as
hemophilia,
viral diseases such as
yellow fever, or the result of
malnutrition such as the lack of
vitamin C (resulting in
scurvy) or of
vitamin K. It can also be a symptom of acute
leukemia.
From the science dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/