Pathologic RBC Forms

Question 1

Acanthocyte (“spur cell”) associated pathology

Answer 1

Liver disease, abetalipoproteinemia, associated with uremia, pyruvate kinase deficiency, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, or mechanical damage

Question 2

Basophilic stippling associated pathology

Answer 2

Lead poisoning

Question 3

Degmacyte (Bite Cell) associated pathology

Answer 3

G6PD deficiency

Question 4

Elliptocyte associated pathology

Answer 4

hereditary elliptocytosis

Question 5

Macro-ovalocyte pathology

Answer 5

Megalolastic anemia (also hypersegmented PMNs), marrow failure

Question 6

Ringed sideroblast

Answer 6

Sideroblastic anemia (excess iron in mitochondria–> pathologic)

Question 7

Schistocyte (“helmet cell”)

Answer 7

DIC, TTP/HUS, HELLP syndrome, mechanical hemolysis (e.g. heart valve prosthesis)

Question 8

Spherocyte

Answer 8

Hereditary spherocytosis

Question 9

Dacrocyte (“teardrop cell”)

Answer 9

Bone marrow infiltration (e.g. myelofibrosis)–> RBC “sheds a tear” because it’s mechanically squeezed out of its home in the bone marrow

Question 10

Target Cell

Answer 10

HbC disease, Asplenia, Liver disease, Thalassemia

HALT said the hunter to his TARGET

Question 11

Heinz bodies

Answer 11

Seen in G6PD deficiency; heinz body like inclusions seen in alpha thalassemia

Question 12

Howell Jolly body

Answer 12

Seen in patients with function hyposplenia or asplenia