Hereditary elliptocytosis - Overview
Alternative Names
Elliptocytosis - hereditary
Definition of Hereditary elliptocytosis:
Hereditary elliptocytosis is a disorder passed down through families in which the red blood cells are oval-shaped.
See also: Hereditary spherocytosis
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Elliptocytosis affects about 1 in every 4,000-5,000 people. It is most common in people of African and Mediterranean descent. You are more likely to develop this condition if someone in your family has had it.
- Reviewed last on: 4/1/2007
- Mark Levin, MD, Hematologist and Oncologist, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
References
Gallagher PG. Hereditary elliptocytosis: spectrin and protein 4.1R. Semin Hematol. 2004 Apr; 41(2): 142-64.
Kasper D, Braunwald E, Fauci A, et al. Harrison's Principals of Internal Medicine. 16th edition [online version]. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2005.
Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Shattil SS, et al. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Orlando, Fl: Churchill Livingstone; 2005.
