History

Background: Hereditary elliptocytosis is a well-known red cell membrane disorder that is usually asymptomatic with difficulty to determine the actual incidence. Aim:  This work aims to assess the prevalence of hereditary elliptocytosis in Iraq-Kerbala. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional prospective study 10000 persons were examined by hematologist during the period from January 2014 to March 2022 in a specialized legal private laboratory for hematological investigations in Iraq/Kerbala through doing full blood count and blood film. Uncorrected reticulocyte count, serum total bilirubin and indirect bilirubin were done only for cases that are detected to have hereditary elliptocytosis with daily record for the presence or absence of hereditary elliptocytosis. Cases of hereditary elliptocytosis are defined when there are elliptocytes or ovalocytes that constitute 25%-100% of total red cells in stained blood film when other causes of elliptocytosis are excluded. All visitors (males and females, any age) from Iraq-Kerbala who were coming for that private laboratory during the period of study who need complete blood count and blood film for general checking or referred from medical clinics or hospitals for diagnosis or follow up of certain disease were selected for the study.Results: Three cases out of 10000 are discovered to have hereditary elliptocytosis (3/10000). 1/3 cases were discovered incidentally during general checking while the other 2/3 cases had disorders (presented for treatment of another diseases, namely chronic renal failure and urinary tract infection). 1/3 of cases had Anemia while the other 2/3 cases had normal Hb levels. 2/3 of cases (66.66%) had slightly raised uncorrected reticulocyte count, slightly raised serum total bilirubin and serum indirect bilirubin, reflecting the presence of mild hemolysis. Conclusion: The prevalence of hereditary elliptocytosis in Iraq-Kerbala is 3.0/10000 of population.