RBC Morphology

Question 1

Variation in size

Answer 1

Anisocytosis

Question 2

Variation in shape

Answer 2

Poikilocytosis

Question 3

• Indication of uremia, pyruvate kinase deficiency, or an artifact
• due to osmotic imbalance

with evenly spaced short projections

Answer 3

Echinocytes

burr cells

Question 4

Seen in:

• abetalipoproteinemia
• liver disease
• McLeod syndrome

irregularly spaced projections

due to excessive cholesterol in the membrane

Answer 4

Acanthocytes (spurr cells)

Question 5

Seen in:

• microangiopathic hemolytic anemias (DIC, TTP, HUS)
• Severe burns

fragmented RBCs in intravascular hemolysis

Answer 5

Schistocytes

Question 6

2 hallmarks of sickle cell anemia

Answer 6

1. Sickle cells (drepanocyte)
2. Target cells (codocyte)

Question 7

Seen in:

• myelofibrosis
• thalassemia
• myelophthisic anemia
• megaloblastic anemia

Answer 7

Daryocytes (teardrop)

Question 8

seen in:

• alcoholic cirrhosis
• Rh null disease

due to osmotic changes caused by cation imbalance

Answer 8

Stomatocytes

Question 9

Seen in:

• burns
• AIHA
• HDFN
• incompatible blood transfusion

loss of lipid membrane

↓surface-to-volume ratio

Answer 9

Spherocyte

Question 10

Seen in multiple myeloma and macroglobulinemia

Answer 10

Rouleaux

Question 11

seen in:

• liver disease
• Hb C disease
• Thalassemia

due to excessive cholesterol in the membrane

↑surface-to-volume ratio

Answer 11

Target cell

codocyte, Mexican hat cell, and leptocyte

Question 12

due to defects in RBC membrane proteins

Answer 12

elliptocytes