Red Blood Cell Morphology Quiz

Study Notes

Red Blood Cell (RBC) Morphology

Burr Cell (A.K.A. Crenated Cell / Echinocyte):
- RBCs with regularly spiculated surfaces
- May exhibit even projections or a rounded appearance
Ovalocyte:
- Oval-shaped RBCs
- Associated with hereditary ovalocytosis (aka South East Asian ovalocytosis)
- Also linked to pyruvate kinase deficiency
Elliptocyte:
- Elliptical (cigar-shaped) RBCs
- Linked to hereditary elliptocytosis
- Can be associated with thalassemia and/or mediterrannean anemia.
Dacryocyte (A.K.A. Tear Drop Cell):
- Pear-shaped or teardrop-shaped RBCs
- Frequently found in primary myelofibrosis (PMF)
- PMF is a type of myeloproliferative neoplasm. Characteristics include: splenomegaly, marrow hypercellularity with increased megakaryocytes and fibrosis, immature granulocytes, normoblasts, dacryocytes, and other bizarre RBC shapes in the peripheral blood smear (PBS).
Schistocyte (A.K.A. Schistocyte):
- Fragmented RBCs
- Associated with conditions like patients with artificial heart valves, uremia, severe burns, certain microangiopathic hemolytic anemias (e.g., TTP, HELLP syndrome, HUS) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

Other Conditions

Uremia:
- Characterized by elevated plasma urea and other nitrogenous waste products
- Often results in acidemia, electrolyte imbalance (potassium elevation), normocytic and normochromic anemia, uremic frost, generalized edema, foul breath, and urine-like sweat.
Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF):
- A myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN)
- Splenomegaly, hypercellularity, increased megakaryocytes and fibrosis in the bone marrow; and immature granulocytes, normoblasts, and dacryocytes, and other bizarre RBC shapes in the peripheral blood smear (PBS).
- PMF was previously known as myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia, chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis, and agnogenic myelofibrosis.
Megaloblastic Anemia:
- Associated with myelophthisic anemia, Heinz body formation, drug /toxin ingestion, and some hemolytic conditions.
HUS (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome):
- Characterized by renal failure, thrombocytopenia, presence of schistocytes in the peripheral blood smear (PBS), and severe mucocutaneous hemorrhage.
- Often associated with Escherichia coli serotype O157: H7 infection.

Description

Test your knowledge on various types of red blood cell (RBC) morphologies. This quiz covers key characteristics and associations of different RBC shapes, including Burr cells, Ovalocytes, Elliptocytes, Dacryocytes, and Schistocytes. Understand the clinical implications of these morphologies in hematological disorders.