Poikilocytes Flashcards
Increased number of red cells with variation in shape
Poikilocytosis
RBCs almost spherical, lacking central pallor, associated with hereditary spherocytosis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, burns, ABO HDN, and transfusion of stored blood
Spherocytes
Key area to avoid misidentifying spherocytes in a blood film
Feathered edge of the blood film
Condition causing natural RBC death, leading to spherocytic red cells
Normal RBC death
RBCs elongated with a slit-like central pallor, also known as mouth cells
Stomatocytes
Poikilocyte seen in:
Rh deficiency syndrome
alcoholism
electrolyte imbalance
severe liver diseases
Stomatocytes
Also in overhydrated hereditary/dehydrated hereditary stomatocytosis
Most common form of stomatocytosis, characterized by the presence of xerocytes
Dehydrated hereditary stomatocytosis (Hereditary xerocytosis)
Dehydrated form of stomatocyte, appears half-light and half-dark
Xerocyte
RBCs with irregularly spiculated surface, also known as thorn cells or spur cells
Acanthocytes
Condition characterized by defective apo B synthesis and absence of VLDL, LDL, and chylomicrons in plasma
Abetalipoproteinemia (Bassen Kornzweig syndrome or Hereditary acanthocytosis)
Poikilocytes seen in McLeod Syndrome, Pyruvate kinase deficiency, Hepatic hemangioma, Neonatal hepatitis, After heparin administration, Postsplenectomy, Cirrhosis of the liver with hemolytic anemia
Acanthocytes
Syndrome with cirrhosis-associated hemolytic anemia and normal platelets
TAR syndrome
RBCs with regularly spiculated surface
Burr cells
also known as echinocytes
Condition associated with Burr cells, characterized by increased plasma urea, acidemia, and electrolyte imbalance (K+ elevation)
Uremia
Key features of uremia
normocytic, normochromic anemia, uremic frost, generalized edema,foul breath,urine-like sweat
Enzyme deficiency also associated with Burr cells
Pyruvate kinase deficiency
Oval-shaped RBCs associated with hereditary ovalocytosis, especially in Southeast Asia
Ovalocytes
Elliptical (cigar-shaped) RBCs associated with hereditary elliptocytosis and other conditions like thalassemia
Elliptocytes
Conditions associated with ovalocytes
Hereditary ovalocytosis (Southeast Asian ovalocytosis)
Conditions associated with elliptocytes
Hereditary elliptocytosis,thalassemia,hereditary leptocytosis
Pear-shaped or teardrop-shaped RBCs, also known as tear drop cells
Dacryocytes
Condition associated with dacryocytes, characterized by splenomegaly, marrow hypercellularity, increased megakaryocytes, and fibrosis
Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF)
Poikilocytes associated with Megaloblastic anemia, myelophthisic anemia, drug-induced Heinz body formation, tuberculosis, tumor metastasis to bone marrow, thalassemia, some hemolytic anemias
Dacryocytes
Type of neoplasm PMF is categorized under
Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN)
Peripheral blood smear findings in PMF
Immature granulocytes,normoblasts,dacryocytes,and other bizarre RBC shapes
Fragmented RBCs seen in conditions like MAHAs and artificial heart valves
Schistocytes
Disorders classified as MAHAs characterized by RBC fragmentation and thrombocytopenia (e.g., TTP, HUS)
TTP,HELLP syndrome,HUS,DIC
Condition associated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection, renal failure, thrombocytopenia, and schistocytes
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
Key feature of MAHAs causing RBC fragmentation
Narrowing or obstruction of small blood vessels by fibrin or platelet aggregates
Specific type of schistocyte with a distinct shape, seen in MAHAs
Microangiopathic Anemia
Helmet cell
Alternative names for DIC, characterized by generalized over-activation of coagulation and fibrinolytic systems
Defibrination syndrome,consumption coagulopathy
Tests used to diagnose DIC
D-dimer test,PF 1+2 (Prothrombin fragment)
Conditions associated with DIC (TOMASA)
- Tissue trauma
- Obstetric complications
- Mucus-secreting tumors
- Acute infections (e.g., malaria
- Gram-negative septicemia)
- Snake bites
- Acute promyelocytic leukemia
RBCs that are sickle- or crescent-shaped, also known as sickle cell menisocytes
Drepanocytes
Conditions associated with drepanocytes (e.g., sickle cell anemia, Hemoglobin SC disease)
Sickle cell anemia,Hemoglobin SC disease
Two forms of drepanocytes
Irreversible sickle cell and oat-shaped cells
Distinguishing oat-shaped cells from other forms of drepanocytes
Oat-shaped cells have long projections and return to the biconcave disk shape upon reoxygenation
RBCs showing a centrally stained area with a thin outer rim of hemoglobin, also known as codocytes or leptocytes
Target cells
Conditions associated with target cells, including liver disease and thalassemia
Liver disease,certain hemoglobinopathies,thalassemia (Hereditary leptocytosis,Mediterranean anemia),LCAT deficiency
Key characteristic of codocytes, seen both in vivo and under electron microscopy
Increased cell membrane-to-volume ratio,appearing bell-shaped
RBCs with a semicircular defect in their edge, resembling a bite mark, also known as degmatocytes
Bite cells
Condition associated with bite cells
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency
RBCs that are folded, resembling a biscuit shape
Biscuit cells
Condition associated with biscuit cells
Hemoglobin SC disease
RBCs with bipolar or central distribution of hemoglobin, associated with sickle cell anemia
Bronze elliptocytes
Large pale-pink staining ghost of a red cell, seen in malaria and other conditions causing overt hemolysis
Semilunar body
Alternative names for target cells
Codocytes,leptocytes,bull’s eye cells,Mexican hat cells,Greek helmet cells,platycytes
Alternative name for stomatocytes
Mouth cells
Alternative name for helmet cells
Helmet-shaped schistocytes
Alternative name for dacryocytes
Teardrop cells
Alternative name for acanthocytes
Thorn cells,spur cells
Alternative description for schistocytes
Fragmented RBCs
