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There is no treatment needed for the disorder unless red blood cells rupture. Surgery to remove the spleen may decrease red blood cell rupture.
Most persons with hereditary elliptocytosis have no problems, and are unaware of their condition.
Elliptocytosis is frequently harmless. In mild cases, fewer than 15% of red blood cells are oval-shaped. However, some people may have crises in which the red blood cells rupture, releasing their hemoglobin . Persons with this disease can develop anemia , jaundice , and gallstones .
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have jaundice that doesn't go away or symptoms of anemia or gallstones.
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.
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