Altered red blood cell surface area in hereditary xerocytosis.

Hereditary xerocytes appear larger than normal red cells in scanning electron micrographs and exhibit a higher ghost packing volume. The major chemical components--protein, phosphorus, cholesterol and sialic acid--are increased uniformly, as are all polypeptides visible on gel electrophoresis patterns of xerocyte membranes. These data are consistent with a xerocyte surface area 15 to 25% above normal. Certain clinical anomalies common to this disorder, including unexpectedly low reticulocyte count and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate level, are discussed in the light of the present findings.