Anemia

Hereditary Spherocytosis

Hereditary spherocytosis, a condition that causes the red blood cell membrane to be smaller and rounder than normal, often results in blood cells that remain in the bloodstream for a shorter time than normal. The spleen is one place where the body destroys these abnormally shaped red blood cells. This process may lead to moderate anemia. Treating hereditary spherocytosis may involve dietary supplements or removal of the spleen. Some patients need no treatment.

Treatment

In many cases, doctors recommend that patients take supplements containing folate, a vitamin needed to produce red blood cells. This is necessary for patients with hereditary spherocytosis because their bone marrow needs to make increased numbers of red blood cells to compensate for the short survival time of the cells.

Surgery may be needed to remove the spleen (splenectomy). This is most commonly done for patients who have severe cases of hereditary spherocytosis. Surgeons at Mayo Clinic may consider this procedure in children older than 3. Skilled surgeons at Mayo Clinic offer both traditional and minimally invasive techniques (laparascopic surgery) to remove the spleen. Laparascopic splenectomies typically require a hospital stay that averages two days, versus five days for open surgery.