RBC Pathology

Question 1

Answer 1

Acanthocyte (spur cell)

Liver disease, abetalipoproteinemia (states of cholesterol dysregulation).

Acantho = spiny.

Question 2

Answer 2

Basophilic stippling

Anemia of Chronic Disease, alcohol abuse, Lead poisoning, Thalassemias.

Basically, ACiD alcohol is LeThal.

Question 3

Answer 3

Bite cell

G6PD deficiency

Question 4

Answer 4

Elliptocyte

Hereditary elliptocytosis

Question 5

Answer 5

Macro-ovalocyte

Megaloblastic anemia (also hypersegmented PMNs), marrow failure.

Question 6

Answer 6

Ringed sideroblast

Sideroblastic anemia.

Excess iron in mitochondria = pathologic.

Question 7

Answer 7

Schistocyte, helmet cell

DIC, TTP/HUS, traumatic hemolysis (i.e., mechanical heart valve prosthesis).

Question 8

Answer 8

Sickle cell anemia

Question 9

Answer 9

Spherocyte

Hereditary spherocytosis, autoimmune hemolysis

Question 10

Answer 10

Teardrop cell

Bone marrow infiltration (e.g., myelofibrosis).

RBC “sheds a tear ” because it’s been forced out of its home in the bone marrow.

Question 11

Answer 11

Target cell

HbC disease, Asplenia, Liver disease, Thalassemia.

“HALT,” said the hunter to his target.

Question 12

Answer 12

Heinz bodies

Oxidation of hemoglobin sulfhydryl groups –> denatured hemoglobin precipitation and phagocytic damage to RBC membrane –>bite cells.

Visualized with special stains such as crystal violet.

Seen in G6PD deficiency; Heinz body–like inclusions seen in α -thalassemia.

Question 13

Answer 13

Howell-Jolly bodies

Basophilic nuclear remnants found in RBCs.

Howell-Jolly bodies are normally removed from RBCs by splenic macrophages.

Seen in patients with functional hyposplenia or asplenia.