Blood film: Anisopoikilocytosis, microcytosis, hypochromia with pencil cells (showing iron deficiency). Usually, RBCs, also called erythrocytes, are nearly identical in shape and size. The symptoms vary depending upon the underlying disease causing this condition. Microcytosis and hypochromasia | Pathology Student Target Cells (Codocytes): erythrocytes that are thinner than normal which show a peripheral rim of hemoglobin with a dark central hemoglobin-containing area. Iron deficiency is common in infancy and childhood because demands are great for the ever-expanding pool of circulating hemoglobin in the growing body, and in pregnancy when the fetus must be supplied with iron. At first anemia can be so mild that it goes unnoticed. Before we start with the abnormal morphologies, lets talk about normal morphology of Red Blood Cells. 4 Cell biology. They generally live for about 120 days before they die off and need to be replaced. These are seen in the following conditions: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), Consequence of an artificial mechanical heart valve, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a complication of stool pathogen E.coli 0157:H7 (Enterohemorrhagic E. coli), which damages the kidneys, Multiple Myeloma (MM, a type of blood cancer), Inflammatory and Connective Tissue Disorders, Hereditary Pyrimidine 5'-Nucleotidase Deficiency, Iron-overloading disorders (Hereditary hemochromatosis), Sideroblastic anemia (Congenital or Acquired), Refractory Anemia with Ringed Sideroblasts (RARS), In this type, 15% or more of RBC precursors are ringed sideroblasts, Bone marrow: erythroid hyperplasia, <5% myeloblasts, iron overload, and hepatosplenomegaly, Collecting & Processing of Blood: Pre-Analytical, The Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Differential, Red Blood Cell Inclusions and Abnormalities, White Blood Cell Inclusions and Abnormalities, 3-20 spicules with narrow bases that are distributed unevenly, seen in older blood cells or older samples, found in post-splenectomy states very commonly, always associated with pathological conditions, large numbers seen in abetalipoproteinemia or advanced liver disease, cell membrane damaged due to a decrease in membrane cholesterol, severe liver disease (hepatitis, ascites, cirrhosis, cancer, gallstones, toxicity, etc), Congestive splenomegaly (enlarged spleen), I see these a lot in organ failure, hypoxemia, respiratory distress, liver failure, uremia (kidney problems) and renal failure, low levels of magnesium and/or low levels of phosphate (decreased Mg/Phos on Chemistry tests), Increasedconcentrations of globulins or paraproteins, Clumping may be seen in antigen-antibody reactions (such as a transfusion reaction), Precipitated hemoglobin or denatured hemoglobin occurs, Usually a defect of an RBC enzyme in which a Heinz Body is removed by the spleen, so the cell looks like it's had a "bite" taken out of it, A pseudo-vacuole in the RBC membrane is formed by the disruption of fibrin, Pelger-Huet cell with agranulation and vacuoles, Anisocytosis with schistocytes, bite cells, macrocytes, microcytes, rbc aggregation, hypochromia, ovalocytes, one cell with Pappenheimer bodies. Anisocytosis is the medical term for having red blood cells (RBCs) that are unequal in size. Reporting and grading of abnormal red blood cell morphology Iron Deficiency. 1 doctor answer 1 doctor weighed in. 18. Hypochromic Anemia is a term used to describe any type of anemia in which red blood cells are paler than normal.
