Disorder - Osmotic resistance of erythrocytes

Organ Systems Involved
Cardiovascular

Brief Description

A condition where the red blood cells (erythrocytes) may be either very swollen with water, or they are dehydrated, due to an imbalance in salt levels between the red blood cells and the blood.

Presenting Signs

There are two conditions that can result from this salt imbalance; these are called hydrocytosis and xerocytosis. Hydrocytosis results when the red blood cell is swollen with water. Water flows freely into the cell to dilute a high concentration of dissolved salts in the cell, thus swelling the cell. Xerocytosis results when the red blood cell is shrunken and dehydrated. This happens when water flows out of the cell, to dilute the higher concentration of salts in the surrounding fluid. Both hydrocytosis and xerocytosis have been reported after removal of the spleen. Hydrocytosis is also related to chronic low-grade anaemia (lack of red blood cells) and recurrent episodes of more severe anaemia and jaundice. With xerocytosis, mild to moderate anaemia, fluid retention in the newborn and anaemia of the newborn have been reported.

Treatment

Medical

Related Disorders

Haemolytic anaemia
Hydrocytosis
Hydrops fetalis
Neonatal anaemia
Xerocytosis

PubMed References
Osmotic resistance of erythrocytes

Further Reference Material [OMIA Number]
746


Contributor
Dorothy Tan