Acanthocyte
(Spurr cell, Spike cell)
Peripheral blood smear, Wright-Giemsa, 1000x
Description:
Thorn-like projections of varying lengths irregularly distributed over the surface of the red cell.
Pathobiology:
Due to an increase in the membrane cholesterol:lecithin ratio of the outer leaflet of the lipid bilayer. The change is usually irreversible.
Differential Diagnosis:
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Asplenia and hyposplenism
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Liver disease
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Abetalipoproteinemia
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Neuroacanthocytosis
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McLeod and In (Lutheran a-, b-) blood group phenotypes
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Malnutrition
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Myelodysplastic syndromes with dyserythropoiesis
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Charles
E.
Hess,
M.D.,FACP [more information]
Professor of Internal Medicine
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