What causes the destruction of red cells in hereditary spherocytosis?
a. Complement activation
b. Bound autoantibodies
c. Phagocytosis by peripheral monocytes
d. Phagocytosis by splenic macrophages
ANS: D
The spherocytes found in hereditary spherocytosis are rigid and not as deformable as the normal biconcave red cell. The spleen selectively sequesters these abnormal red cells as they move through the spleen, where they become further damaged and are selectively removed by macrophages in the red pulp of the spleen.
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