Esferocitosis Hereditaria: presentación y evolución en un lactante menor. Reporte de un caso.

INTRODUCTION: Hereditary spherocytosis is a common cause of hemolytic anemia due to an alteration of the erythrocyte membrane. Affected patients can remain asymptomatic, with a minimum hemolysis, or develop a severe hemolytic anemia. It is transferred as an autosomal dominant disease, less frequent as an autosomal recessive one, or with no medical history in the family. CASE REPORT: 3 month-old infant, with a medical history of neonatal ictericy lengthy so far, consultation at San Ignacio polyclinic because of a postprandial regurgitation, a hemogram is carried out by presenting intense paleness and ictericy, detecting severe anemia and indirect hyperbilirubinemia. It is decided to hospitalize him into Herminda Martin Clinic Hospital, being hypoactive, with no other symptoms. 50 cc red corpuscles are transfused, progressing favorably. During hospitalization it is found out the medical history of a cousin who was splenectomized due to hemolytic anemia symptoms recurring for 5 years. It is decided the discharge with a folic acid treatment and an interconsult with a hematologist. DISCUSSION: Although the hereditary spherocytosis is the congenital hemolytic anemia more frequent in Chile, its diagnosis turns more complicated for an unknown medical history in the family, or if it does not present reticulocytosis nor splenomegaly (as in this case), which leads to think of other causes of anemia. Because of that it was very important the medical history of the family known after his admission into the hospital, because it directed towards a diagnosis that in this case did not have a typical presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]