Red pulp of the spleen in hereditary elliptocytosis

Summary

Electron microscopic study of the spleen of an adult with hereditary elliptocytosis demonstrated features of erythrocyte pooling in the splenic cords with decreased red cells in transit through the basement membrane slits between the sinus littoral cells and decreased erythrocytes in splenic sinuses. Cordal reticulum cells, macrophages, and platelets were prominent. Light microscopy demonstrated relatively empty sinuses, and electron microscopy confirmed that the sinuses contained variable numbers of intact red cells. The morphology of the splenic red pulp in hereditary elliptocytosis was found to simulate that seen in hereditary spherocytosis but to a lesser degree.