Common Indicators Of McLeod Syndrome

Hemolytic Anemia

A common symptom of McLeod syndrome is hemolytic anemia, which is a disorder where an individual's red blood cells are destroyed at a faster rate than their body is able to replenish them. The mutation that causes an absence of the Kx antigen in McLeod syndrome patients results in the weak expression of kell antigens. Without kell antigens, abnormally shaped red blood cells or acanthocytes will form in the patient's bloodstream. Acanthocytes or spur cells are red blood cells that feature spiky projections of variable surface distribution and sizes. These spur cells tend to accumulate in the blood and crowd out healthy red blood cells in McLeod syndrome patients. In addition, these spur cells die off quicker than healthy red blood cells and have to be filtered from the blood by the spleen. The dead spur cells can accumulate in the spleen and cause it to swell or rupture. The fast rate of abnormal red blood cell apoptosis or death causes the affected individual's body to fall behind in healthy red blood cell production. When there are not enough healthy functioning red blood cells in circulation, the tissues around the body will not receive adequate oxygen delivery.

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