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THE ERYTHROCYTE MEMBRANE
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The erythrocyte membrane plays a critical role in the maintenance of the biconcave shape and integrity of the red cell.
It provides flexibility, durability, and tensile strength, enabling erythrocytes to undergo extensive and repeated distortion during their passage through the microvasculature.
It consists of a lipid bilayer with embedded transmembrane proteins and an underlying membrane protein skeleton that is attached to the bilayer via linker proteins.
The integrity of the membrane relies on vertical interactions between the skeleton and the bilayer, as well as on horizontal interactions within the membrane skeletal network.
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ERYTHROCYTE MEMBRANE ABNORMALITIES
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Inherited membrane protein defects disrupt the membrane architecture and alter the shape of the cell resulting in hemolytic anemia as illustrated in Figure 13–1.
Protein defects that compromise vertical interactions between the membrane skeleton and the lipid bilayer result in destabilization of the bilayer, loss of membrane microvesicles, and spherocyte formation.
Protein defects affecting horizontal protein interactions within the membrane skeletal network disrupt the skeleton, resulting in defective shape recovery and elliptocytes.
Red cell membrane disorders exhibit significant heterogeneity in their clinical, morphologic, laboratory, and molecular characteristics.
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Table 13–1 summarizes the relationship between red cell membrane proteins and disease phenotype.
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HEREDITARY SPHEROCYTOSIS
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Definition and Epidemiology
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Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is characterized by osmotically fragile, spherical erythrocytes.
HS occurs in all race groups but is the ...