Basophilic stippling
Encyclopedia
Basophilic stippling aka Punctate basophilia refers to an observation found when observing a blood smear, where erythrocytes display small dots at the periphery. These dots represent accumulations of rRNA and are always pathological.
It is associated with several conditions, including:
It is associated with several conditions, including:
- Sideroblastic anemiaSideroblastic anemiaSideroblastic anemia or sideroachrestic anemia is a disease in which the bone marrow produces ringed sideroblasts rather than healthy red blood cells . It may be caused either by a genetic disorder or indirectly as part of myelodysplastic syndrome, which can evolve into hematological malignancies...
- Lead poisoningLead poisoningLead poisoning is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body. Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems...
(microcytic anemia)
- Beta thalassemia (though some have questioned this)