Basophilic Stippling
(Punctate Basophilia)
Peripheral blood smear, Wright-Giemsa, 1000x
Description:
Small basophilic inclusions distributed throughout the red cell cytoplasm. Increased numbers of basophilic stippled red cells are seen in a diverse group of red cell disorders, and small numbers are seen on normal peripheral blood smears.
Pathobiology:
The stippled material is composed of RNA and represents aggregates of ribosomes.
Differential diagnosis:
- Thalassemias (stippling may be coarse)
- Megaloblastic anemias
- Lead and other heavy metal poisoning (stippling is coarse)
- Dyserythropoiesis of whatever etiology (stippling usually fine)
- Unstable hemoglobinopathies
- Liver disease (stippling fine)
- Hereditary pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase deficiency (stippling coarse)
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Charles
E.
Hess,
M.D.,FACP
Professor of Internal Medicine |
| Department of Medicine Division of Hematology/Oncology |
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| M.D. Degree: | University of Virginia, 1959 | |
| Residency: | Internal Medicine, University of Virginia | |
| Fellowship: | Hematology, University of Virginia | |
| Certification: |
Internal Medicine
Hematology |
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| Research Interests: | Hematologic malignancies, splenomegaly | |
| Department Web Site: | http://www.healthsystem.vir ginia.edu/internet/internal/ |
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| Phone: | (434) 924-2572 | |