anisocytosis
|
variation in cell size
|
corresponds to raised RDW (see Full Blood Count)
|
poikilocytosis
|
variation in cell shape
|
may be diagnostic (e.g. spherocytes)
|
macrocytosis
|
raised red cell volume
|
B12/folate deficiency, ethanol, hypothyroidism
|
microcytosis
|
reduced red cell volume
|
iron deficiency, thalassaemia trait
|
rouleaux
|
'chains' of red cells
|
raised protein in plasma e.g. myeloma, inflammation
|
agglutination
|
'clumped' red cells
|
col autoagglutination
|
spherocytes
|
small round red cells
|
hereditary, autoimmune
|
elliptocytes
|
rod shaped red cells
|
hereditary, elliptocytosis
|
target cells
|
dark centre to red cells
|
thalassaemia, liver disease, iron deficiency, Hb C (Afro-Caribbeans)
|
polychromasia
|
large basophilic red cells
|
immature red cells (bleeding, haemolysis)
|
Howell Jolly bodies
|
nuclear remnants in red cells
|
post-splenectomy, hyposplenism
|
Heinz bodies
|
denatured haemoglobin
|
oxidative haemolysis (e.g. G6PD deficiency)
|
Burr cells
|
irregularly crenated red cells
|
renal failure, hypothyroidism
|
acanthocytes
|
spiky red cells
|
liver disease
|
schistocytes
|
red cell fragments
|
mechanical e.g. prosthetic heart valves, DIC
|
left shift
|
myelocytes and meta-myelocytes in film
|
infection, marrow infiltration
|
right shift
|
hypersegmented polymorphs
|
megaloblastic anaemia
|
toxic granulation
|
increased granulation in neutrophils
|
implies bacterial infection
|