Hereditary elliptocytosis

**Definition:** Hereditary elliptocytosis is a group of rare conditions caused by abnormalities in the red cell cytoskeleton and marked by the presence on blood smears of numerous elliptical red blood cells, called elliptocytes. Clinical presentations are highly heterogeneous ranging from asymptomatic forms to more severe forms associated with variable anaemia, from moderate to severe and with pyropoikilocytosis including fragmented red cells, microelliptocytes and microspherocytes.

**Inclusions:** - Common hereditary elliptocytosis - Homozygous hereditary elliptocytosis - Spherocytic elliptocytosis - Hereditary pyropoikilocytosis