MLAB 1415: Hematology Keri Brophy- M artinez

1. MLAB 1415: HematologyKeri Brophy-Martinez Chapter 8: Anemia Part Three

2. RBC Shape Variations • Alterations in the shape of the RBC is called poikilocytosis.

3. Target Cells (Codocytes) • Occur due to an increased red blood cell surface area. • Appear as "targets" on peripheral blood smear.  Have a pale central area with most of the hemoglobin around the rim of the cell. • Are always hypochromic.

4. Target Cells (Codocytes) • Mechanism in formation is related to excess membrane cholesterol and phospholipid, and to decreased cellular hemoglobin.  • Osmotic fragility is decreased.

5. Target Cells (Codocytes) • Seen in patients with: • Liver disease • Hemoglobin C Disease or Trait • Post-splenectomy • Iron Deficiency Anemia • Any Hemoglobin Abnormality • Can be artifactual

6. Target Cells (Codocytes)

7. Spherocytes • Have a low surface-to-volume ratio. • Smaller than normal red cell; hemoglobin relatively concentrated; and, have no area of central pallor. • Shape change is irreversible.

8. Spherocytes • Several mechanisms for formation, but all involve loss of membrane; aging, antibody coating or genetic defect • Is the final stage for red cells before they are sequestered in the spleen.

9. Spherocytes • Seen in patients with: • Activated complement • Immune Hemolytic Anemia • Hereditary Spherocytosis • Post-Transfusion

10. Spherocytes

11. Ovalocytes and Elliptocytes • Ovalocytes may appear normochromic or hypochromic; normocytic or microcytic. • Hemoglobin concentrated at both ends • Exact mechanism of formation unknown.

12. Ovalocytes and Elliptocytes • Ovalocytes associated with: • Myelodysplastic Syndromes • Thalassemias • Megaloblastic Processes • Elliptocytes associated with: • Iron Deficiency Anemia • Hereditary Elliptocytosis • Idiopathic Myelofibrosis

13. Ovalocytes and Elliptocytes

14. Stomatocytes • Red cell of normal size • Slit-like central area of pallor • Exact mechanism of formation unknown • Usually artifactual

15. Stomatocytes • Osmotic fragility increased (more permeable to sodium).

16. Stomatocytes • Associated with following disorders: • Hereditary Stomatocytosis • Hemolytic, Acute Alcoholism • Rh Null Phenotype

17. Sickle Cells (Drepanocytes) • Have at least one pointed end. • Surface area of cell much greater than normal cell.

18. Sickle Cells (Drepanocytes) • Low oxygen tension causes hemoglobin to polymerize, forming tubules that line up in bundles to deform cell. • Most sickle cells can revert back to normal shape when oxygenated.

19. Sickle Cells (Drepanocytes) • Associated with the following disorders: • Sickle Cell Anemia • Hemoglobin C Disease

20. Sickle Cells (Drepanocytes)

21. Acanthocytes • Normal or slightly smaller size • Possess 3-12 thorny projections of uneven length along periphery of cell membrane. • Projections are blunt

22. Acanthocytes • Specific mechanism of formation unknown.  • Contain increased cholesterol-to-phospholipid ratio. • Surface area increased • Susceptible to removal by spleen

23. Acanthocytes • Possible pathologies include: • Alcohol Intoxication • Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency • Congenital Abetalipoproteinemia • Vitamin E Deficiency • Post-Splenectomy

24. Acanthocytes

25. Fragmented Cells • Includes: • Burr Cells • Helmet Cells • Schistocytes • Fragmentation is defined as a loss of a piece of cell membrane that may or may not contain hemoglobin.

26. Fragmented Cells • Two pathways that lead to fragmentation: • Alteration of normal fluid circulation (vasculitis, malignant hypertension, heart valve replacement). • Intrinsic defects of red cell that make it less deformable (spherocytes and antibody-covered red cells).

27. Fragmented Cells

28. Burr Cells (Echinocytes) • Red cells with 10-30 evenly spaced spicules over the surface of the cell.  • Normocytic and normochromic.  • In large numbers, are an artifact of sample contamination.

29. Burr Cells (Echinocytes) • "True" burr cells occur in small numbers in uremia, heart disease, stomach cancer, bleeding peptic ulcers, and in patients with untreated hypothyroidism.  • Seen in liver disease, renal disease, and burn patients.  • May occur in any situation that causes change in tonicity of intravascular fluid (dehydration).

30. Helmet Cells (Bite Cells) • Usually have two projections surrounding an empty area of red cell membrane.  • Looks as if cell has had a bite taken out of it.  • Caused by spleenic pitting and impalement of the RBC on fibrin strands

31. Helmet Cells (Bite Cells) • In conditions where red cells have large inclusion bodies (such as Heinz bodies • G6PD deficiency. • May be seen in patients with pulmonary emboli, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

32. Schistocytes • Extreme cell fragmentation • Cell is missing whole pieces of membrane.   • Causes bizarre shapes of red cells. 

33. Schistocytes • Caused by loss of membrane by mechanical means • See in patients with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, DIC, heart valve surgery, or severe burns.

34. Teardrop Cells • Appear as pear-shaped cells.  Length of tail varies.  May be microcytic, normocytic, or macrocytic. • Exact formation process unknown.  Commonly seen in red cells that contain large inclusion bodies.

35. Teardrop Cells • Most commonly seen in idiopathic myelofibrosis, thalassemia, and iron deficiency anemia.

36. References • Harmening, D. M. (2009). Clinical Hematology and Fundamentals of Hemostasis. Philadelphia: F.A Davis. • McKenzie, S. B., & Williams, J. L. (2010). Clinical Laboratory Hematology . Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc. • http://www.ezhemeonc.com/index.php/hematological-disorders/ • http://www.wiwe.net/irene/lab/chemheme/heme/microscope/stomatocyte.htm • http://home.ccr.cancer.gov/oncology/oncogenomics/WEBHemOncFiles/Review%20of%20Terms.html