RBC MORPHOLOGY

Question 1

acanthocytes, spur cells

Answer 1

liver disease, abetalipoproteinemia

projections of varying at irregular intervals

Question 2

echinocytes, burr cells

Answer 2

liver disease, ESRD, pyruvate kinase deficiency

smaller and more uniform projections than acanthocytes

Question 3

dacrocytes, teardrop cells

Answer 3

bone marrow infiltration

RBC sheds a tear b/c its mech squeezed out of its home in the bone marrow

Question 4

schistocytes, helmet cells

Answer 4

MAHAs, mechanical hemolysis

fragmented RBCs

Question 5

degmacytes, bite cells

Answer 5

G6PD deficiency

due to removal of heinz bodies by splenic macrophages

Question 6

elliptocytes

Answer 6

hereditary elliptocytosis

caused by mutation in genes encoding RBC membrane proteins

Question 7

spherocytes

Answer 7

hereditary spherocytosis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia

small spherical cells without central pallor

Question 8

macro-ovalocytes

Answer 8

megaloblastic anemia (also hypersegmented PMNs)

Question 9

target cells

Answer 9

HBC disease, aplenia, liver disease, thalassemia

HALT

Question 10

sickle cells

Answer 10

sickle cell anemia

sickling occurs with low O2 condition