Pathologic RBC Forms Flashcards
acanthocytes
spur cells
acanthocytes associated pathology
liver disease, abetalipoproteinemia (states of cholesterol dysregulation)
acanthocytes notes
acantho = spiny
basophilic stippling associated pathology
sideroblastic anemia (lead poisoning, myelodysplastic syndromes), thalassemias
basophilic stippling notes
seen primarily in peripheral smear, vs ringed sideroblasts seen in bone marrow
aggregation of residual ribosomes
dacrocytes
teardrop cells
dacrocytes associated pathology
bone marrow infiltration (e.g. myelofibrosis), thalassemias
dacrocytes notes
RBC ‘sheds a tear’ because it’s mechanically squeezed out of its home in the bone marrow
degmacytes
‘bite cells’
degmacytes associated pathology
G6PD deficiency
echinocytes
burr cells
echinocytes associated pathology
end-stage renal disease, liver disease, pyruvate kinase deficiency
echinocytes notes
different from acanthocyte; tis projections are more uniform and smaller
elliptocytes associated pathology
hereditary elliptocytosis, usually asymptomatic; caused by mutation in genes encoding RBC membrane proteins (e.g. spectrin)
macro-ovalocytes associated pathology
megaloblastic anemia (also hyperhsegmented PMNs)
ringed sideroblasts associated pathology
sideroblastic anemia
excess iron in mitochondria
ringed sideroblasts notes
seen in bone marrow with special staining (Prussian blue) vs. basophilic stippling in peripheral smear
schistocytes associated pathology
microangiopathic hemolytic anemias, including DIC, TTP/HUS, HELLP syndrome, mechanical hemolysis (heart valve prosthesis)
schistocytes notes
fragmented RBCs (helmet cells)
sickle cells associated pathology
sickle cell anemia
sickle cell notes
sickling occurs with dehydration, deoxygenation, and at high altitude
spherocytes associated pathology
hereditary spherocytosis, drug- and infection-induced hemolytic anemia
spherocytes notes
small, spherical cells without central pallor
target cells associated pathology
HbC disease, Asplenia, Liver disease, Thalassemia
target cells notes
HALT, said the hunter to his Target
Heinz bodies associated pathology
seen in G6PD deficiency
Heinz bodies notes
oxidation of Hb-SH groups to -S–S- -> Hb precipitation (Heinz bodies), with subsequent phagocytic damage to RBC membrane -> bite cells
Howell-Jolly bodies associated pathology
seen in patients with functional hyposplenia or asplenia
Howell-Jolly bodies notes
basophilic nuclear remnants found in RBCs
Howell-Jolly bodies are normally removed from RBCs by splenic macrophages
