Final answer:
Spherocytes do persist after a splenectomy in patients with hereditary spherocytosis because the underlying defect in the red blood cells remains; however, symptoms can be improved as the spleen's role in removing these cells is eliminated.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, spherocytes persist following a splenectomy in patients with hereditary spherocytosis. Hereditary spherocytosis is a condition characterized by the presence of spherocytes, which are abnormally shaped red blood cells, in the bloodstream. The spleen typically removes these defective cells from circulation, but after a splenectomy, the function of filtering out these cells is compromised. Despite the removal of the spleen, the underlying problem in the red blood cells' membrane that leads to the spherical shape remains, and so the spherocytes will continue to appear in the blood. However, the symptoms of the disease may be significantly reduced after a splenectomy since the destruction of spherocytes is decreased without the spleen. The splenectomy is a treatment utilized to manage the condition and reduce related complications, but it does not cure the genetic defect causing the cell shape abnormality.