Some article demarcated American affliction (5)
I believe the answer is:
edema
'affliction' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both states of affairs as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'some article demarcated american' is the wordplay.
'some' indicates a hidden word (some parts of the word are used).
'EDEMA' can be found hidden inside 'article demarcated american'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for edema that I've seen before include "dropsy" , "American swelling" .)