Poikilocytosis Flashcards
(27 cards)
-Nuclear maturation defect
-Macrocyte with no central pallor
Seen in: Megaloblastic Anemia
Macroovalocytes
-Spectrin deficiency
-Small, round, dense cells with no central pallor
-Increased OFT due to low surface: volume ratio
Seen in: Hemolytic Anemias
Spherocytes
-Bipolar aggregation of hemoglobin (Rod or cigar shaped, narrower than ovalocytes)
Elliptocyte
Bipolar aggregation of hemoglobin (Egg-shaped, wider than elliptocyte)
Ovalocyte
Thinner variant of ovalocyte
Oat-cell
-Depletion of ATP
-Exposure to hypertonic solution
-Artifact in stained blood smears “Glass effect”
-10 to 30 evenly distributed, uniform-size blunt spicules or bumps on their surface
Seen in: Uremia, Pyruvate Kinase def., Acute blood loss, Cancer stomach
Echinocyte or Burr Cell
-Caused by changes in ratios of plasma lipids (Lecithins & Sphingomyelins)
-Small densely stained red cells w/ irregularly spaced, pointed spicules or thorn like projections
Seen in: Neuroacanthocyte, Severe liver dx
Acanthocyte or Spurr Cells
-Increased permeability of the membrane to sodium
-Mouth or slit like area of central pallor on fixed and stained film
Seen in: Rh Null dx
Stomatocyte
-Increased membrane surface due to increased cholesterol & phospholipid loading
-RBC w/ hemoglobin concentrated in the center and around the periphery resembling a target
Seen in: Thalassemia, Hemoglobinopathies SS,CC,DD,EE
Codocyte (Target Cell, Mexican Cell)
Thinner variant: Leptocyte
-“Clothesline effect”
-Hallmark of hemolytic anemia secondary to red cell fragmentation
-Helmet, triangular, comma, and a variety of small, irregular shapes w/ a few pointed extremities
Seen in: Extensive Burns, March hemoglobinuria
Schistocyte (Shizocytes)
aka Keratocyte, Bite cell, Helmet Cell
-Squeezing and fragmentation during splenic passage
-RBC with a single pointed extension resembling a teardrop or pear
Seen in: Myelofibrosis w/ Myeloid metaplasia, Hypersplenism
Dacrocyte
aka Teardrop cell, Tennis Racquet Cell
-Results from thermal damage to the membrane
-Fragments when blood is heated to 45 deg c
-Normal red cells fragment around 49 deg c
-Small, round cells that may be smaller than platelets
Seen in: Severe burns
Microspherocyte or Pyropoikilocytes
-Membrane remaining after the contents have been released
-Large, pale-pink staining ghost of the red cell
Seen in: Malaria
Semilunar Body
aka Half-moon cell/ Crescent cell
-Irreversible change due to polymerization of Hb S into rods at decreased oxygen tension or decreased pH
-Thin, dense, elongated cells w/ pointed ends and are well filled w/ Hb
Seen in: Sickle cell disease/ Anemia
Sickle Cell
aka Drepanocyte
-Hexagonal crystal of dense hemoglobin formed w/in the RBC membrane
-Tetragonal, rectangular rod shaped (bar of gold clam shell)
Seen in: Hb CC Disease
Hb CC Crystals
-Fingerlike or quartz-like crystal of dense hemoglobin protruding from the RBC membrane (“Washington monument” Shape)
Seen in: Hb SC Dx
Hb SC Crystals
-DNA Nuclear Fragments
(+) Feulgen Reaction
Found in: Hyposplenism, Postsplenectomy, Megaloblastic anemia, Hemolytic
Howell-Jolly bodies
Precipitated RNA
Found in: Lead Poisoning, Thalassemia, Hemoglobinopathies
Basophilic Stippling/ Punctate Basophilia
Iron
Found in: Sideroblastic Anemia
Pappenheimer Bodies
Siderocyte - Erythrocyte w/ few small blue dots per cell
Sideroblast - Normoblast w/ dots around the nucleus
RNA
Found in: Hemolytic anemia, After treatment for Iron, Vit B12 or folate
Diffuse basophilia
Remnant of mitotic spindle, microtubules
Found in: Megaloblastic anemia, Myelodysplastic syndromes, Lead poisoning
Cabot rings
Precipitated or Denatured Hemoglobin
Found in: G6PD deficiency, Unstable hemoglobins, Oxidant drugs/chemicals, Favism, Splenectomized patients
Heinz bodies
Precipitate of B-globin chains of hemoglobin
Found in: Hb H dx (Alpha thalassemia)
Hb H
Stain used for Pappenheimer bodies
Prussian Blue stain
