Erythrocyte membrane proteins in healthy Saudis and patients with hereditary spherocytosis and hereditary elliptocytosis.

Background: Little is known about hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) in the native population of Saudi Arabia, even though these conditions are seemingly common. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the protein make-up of the red cell membrane in healthy Saudis and in patients with HS and HE.

Patients And Methods: Eighteen healthy Saudi subjects (13 males and 5 females), 11 patients with HS (6 males and 5 females) and 11 patients with HE (7 males and 4 females) were studied.