Effect of corticosteroids in hereditary spherocytosis.

Prednisolone was administered to three children with hereditary spherocytosis. At the time corticosteroid therapy was started, two of the patients were suffering from severe hemolytic anemia and the 3rd patient had partially recovered from hemolytic anemia after splenectomy. All of the patients prednisolone produced a remarkable increase in the hemoglobin levels with a concomitant increase in reticulocyte counts. We conclude that corticosteroids might stimulate erythropoiesis and may be an alternative therapy to red cell transfusion in pre-operative states for patients with hereditary spherocytosis.