Disorders of the red cell membrane

Red cell membrane defects are a common cause of haemolytic anaemia-hereditary spherocytosis (HS) alone affects between 1 in 2500 and 1 in 5000 individuals and are due to defects in either the quality or quantity of the proteins of the cytoskeleton. They present a heterogeneous clinical picture varying from severe transfusion-dependent anaemia to an incidental finding in completely well individuals. In this review, the author will concentrate on two conditions: HS and elliptocytosis.