RBC Abnormality Vocab Flashcards
What species is rouleaux common in?
Horses and dogs
What do you often see with roleaux?
Increased fibrinogen or serum globulin levels
What species is roleaux rare in?
Ruminants
When can rouleaux be exaggerated?
During inflammatory or neoplasticism disease
What is agglutination?
Clumping of RBC
When does agglutination occur?
Sometimes in antibody mediated anemia
How can you differentiate roleaux from agglutination?
Dilute with saline 1:1, roleaux will separate, agglutination will stay clumped
What do polychromasia RBC look like?
Bluish cytoplasm, resembles residual DNA
What is hypochromasia?
Decreased staining intensity, increased central pallor
What is the most common cause of hypochromasia?
Iron deficiency
Where will you see poikilocytosis?
In diseases characterized by RBC fragmentation or increased fragility, liver kidney, spleen, vessel problems
What are leptocytes?
Thin cells with increased membrane and decreased hemoglobin volume.
What cells are easily folded and distorted?
Leptocytes
What are leptocytes common in?
Non regenerative anemias
What are two of the most common types of leptocytes?
Target cells and folded cells
What are target cells?
Look like target signs, small number is normal.
When will you see target cells?
Iron deficiency and hepaticocyte insufficiency
What are target cells aka?
Consulted
What are folded cells aka?
Knizocytes
What do spherocytes look like?
Small dark RBC lacking central pallor.
What causes spherocytes?
Reduction of membrane
What species are spherocytes readily detected?
Dogs
What are three things that can auss spherocytes?
AIHA, zinc toxicity, following transfusion
What are stomatocytes?
Cup shaped RBC that look like lips
What do stomatocytes indicate?
Certain liver diseases
What breed of dog has hereditary stlmatocytes?
Alaskan malamutes
What are acanthocytes or spur cells?
Irregular spoculated RBC
How many blunt projections will be on a acanthocytes?
2-10
What do acanthocytes mean?
Severe liver disease, increased blood cholesterol, hemangioma archons, DIC, glomerulonephitis
What are schistocytes?
Irregularly shaped fragments of RBC sheared into pieces
What is microangiopathy disease?
Partial occlusion of vessels forcing cells through
What are echinocytes?
Crenated or spiculated
What can cause echinocytes?
Increased EDTA, improper smear prep, or prolonged sample storage.
