See Also: chronic familial icterus(medicine)
benign familial icterus(medicine)
chronic familial polyneuritis(medicine)
chronic familial jaundice(medicine)
benign familial chronic pemphigus(medicine)
Herbal medicine (botanical medicine, herbology, phytomedicine)(health)
icterus(dictionary)
icterus(medicine)
icterus neonatorum(medicine)
icterus praecox(medicine)

chronic familial icterus (medicine)


chronic familial icterus -->
hereditary spherocytosis
<haematology> A hereditary disorder that leads to a chronic haemolytic anaemia due to an abnormality in the red blood cell membrane.

This disorder is caused by a defective gene. Red cells are resistant to stress and rupture easily. Infants may appear jaundiced and pale. Fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath are other symptoms that may be seen in older patients. The spleen may also be enlarged.

Treatment includes splenectomy (removal of the spleen). After this is accomplished the life-span of the red blood cells returns to normal.