Hereditary spherocytosis; Spherocytosis

Infants may have yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) and pale coloring (pallor).

Other symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness

In most cases, the spleen is enlarged.

Laboratory tests can help diagnose this condition. Tests may include:

• Blood smear to show abnormally shaped cells
• Bilirubin level
• Complete blood count to check for anemia
• Coombs' test
• LDH level
• Osmotic fragility
• Reticulocyte count

Images

Red blood cells, normal

Blood cells

Red blood cells, spherocytosis

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Congenital spherocytic anemia Treatment

Review Date: 03/28/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)