American Health Data Institute
Hereditary ovalocytosis
Ovalocytosis - hereditaryHereditary ovalocytosis is a rare condition passed down through families (inherited). The blood cells are oval-shaped instead of round. It is a form of hereditary elliptocytosis.
Hereditary elliptocytosis
Hereditary elliptocytosis is a disorder passed down through families in which the red blood cells are abnormally shaped. It is similar to other bloo...
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Causes
Ovalocytosis is mainly found in Southeast Asian populations.
Symptoms
Newborn infants with ovalocytosis may have anemia and jaundice. Adults most often do not show symptoms.
Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...
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Jaundice
Jaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...
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Exams and Tests
An exam by your health care provider may show an enlarged spleen.
This condition is diagnosed by looking at the shape of blood cells under a microscope. The following tests may also be done:
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Complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia or red blood cell destruction
Complete blood count
A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Blood smear to determine cell shape
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Bilirubin level (may be high)
Bilirubin level
The bilirubin blood test measures the level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid made by the liver. Bi...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Lactate dehydrogenase level (may be high)
- Ultrasound of the abdomen (may show gallstones)
Treatment
In severe cases, the disease may be treated by removal of the spleen (splenectomy).
Splenectomy
Spleen removal is surgery to remove a diseased or damaged spleen. This surgery is called splenectomy. The spleen is in the upper part of the belly, ...
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Possible Complications
The condition may be associated with gallstones or kidney problems.
Gallstones
Gallstones are hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder. These may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.
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References
Gallagher PG. Hemolytic anemias: red blood cell membrane and metabolic defects. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 152.
Gallagher PG. Red blood cell membrane disorders. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 45.
Merguerian MD, Gallagher PG. Hereditary elliptocytosis, hereditary pyropoikilocytosis, and related disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 486.
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Ovalocytosis - illustration
Ovalocytosis
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Blood cells - illustration
Blood is comprised of red blood cells, platelets, and various white blood cells.
Blood cells
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Review Date: 1/25/2022
Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.