How would you differentiate between an Acanthocyte and an Echinocyte?

How would you differentiate between an Acanthocyte and an Echinocyte?

Acanthocytes are irregularly spiculated cells (spicules are irregular in size, shape and distribution around the RBC membrane), whereas echinocytes are regularly spiculated cells.

What causes echinocytes?

Echinocytes may be an artifact caused by slow drying, excess EDTA, improper smear preparation, or old blood (prolonged storage before smear preparation).

What does it mean if you have burr cells present?

The presence of cells called burr cells may indicate: Abnormally high level of nitrogen waste products in the blood (uremia)

What are dacrocytes?

Teardrop cells (dacrocytes) are frequently associated with infiltration of the bone marrow by fibrosis, granulomatous inflammation, or hematopoietic or metastatic neoplasms. They can also be seen in patients with splenic abnormalities, vitamin B12 deficiency, and some other forms of anemia.

What does the presence of echinocytes in blood smear indicate?

Echinocytes (Burr Cells) Although the finding of echinocytes on a peripheral blood film is often an artifact related to blood storage, contact with glass, or an elevated pH, several hemolytic anemias have been reported in association with echinocytosis on peripheral blood films.

What is Acanthocyte?

Acanthocytes are also called spur cells. They are dense, shrunken, and irregularly shaped red blood cells with spikes on the outside. These cells form from changes in the fats and proteins on red blood cells’ outer layers.‌ Most adults have a small number of acanthocytes in their blood.

Are echinocytes Burr cells?

Echinocytes (also called burr cells) have serrated edges over the entire surface of the cell and often appear crenated in a blood smear (picture 3). Although often confused with acanthocytes, the projections of the red cell membrane are smaller and much more uniform in shape and distribution in echinocytes.

Is it normal to have Burr cells?

Burr cell were observed in 77% of normal individual with a mean of 0.051% of all RBCs.

What does 2+ Burr cells mean?

What Abnormal Results Mean. Abnormal results mean the size, shape, color, or coating of the RBCs is not normal. Some abnormalities may be graded on a 4-point scale: 1+ means one quarter of cells are affected. 2+ means one half of cells are affected.

Why are dacrocytes formed?

As dacrocytes are associated with myelofibrosis, they are also theorized to be formed due to mechanically squeezing out from the bone marrow as a result of the infiltrative process.

Where are dacrocytes found?

Dacrocytes are found in myelofibrosis, myeloid metaplasia, pernicious anemia, thalassemia, and some hemolytic anemias.

What does echinocytes 2+ mean?

Abnormal results mean the size, shape, color, or coating of the RBCs is not normal. Some abnormalities may be graded on a 4-point scale: 1+ means one quarter of cells are affected. 2+ means one half of cells are affected.