<P> Hereditary spherocytosis ( also known as Minkowski -- Chauffard syndrome ) abnormality of erythrocytes . The disorder is caused by mutations in genes relating to membrane proteins that allow for the erythrocytes to change shape . The abnormal erythrocytes are sphere - shaped ( spherocytosis ) rather than the normal biconcave disk shaped . Dysfunctional membrane proteins interfere with the cell 's ability to be flexible to travel from the arteries to the smaller capillaries . This difference in shape also makes the red blood cells more prone to rupture . Cells with these dysfunctional proteins are taken for degradation at the spleen . This shortage of erythrocytes results in hemolytic anemia . </P>
hereditary spherocytosis occurs due to mutation in genes coding for
mutations in genes relating to membrane proteins that allow for the erythrocytes to change shape