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		Hereditary Spherocytosis and Hereditary Elliptocytosis
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		Overview of Hemolytic Anemia

The presence of spherocytes in the peripheral blood smear suggests either hereditary spherocytosis (HS) or autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Spherocytes have increased osmotic fragility (because of decreased distensibility associated with reduced surface membrane area) in hypotonic saline, and this test (osmotic fragility test) is positive in HS and in AIHA. The Coombs' test distinguishes between them; it is positive in AIHA and negative in HS.

By permission of the publisher. From Tefferi A, Li C. In Atlas of Clinical Hematology. Edited by JO Armitage. Philadelphia, Current Medicine, 2004. Available at www.images.md.