Poikilocytosis
Encyclopedia
Poikilocytosis refers to the presence of poikilocytes in the blood. Poikilocytes are abnormally shaped red blood cell
s as seen on a blood film
in humans and many wild and domestic species of animals, though they are common in some clinically normal small ruminants, particularly goats.
Normal red blood cells are round, flattened disks that are thinner in the middle than at the edges. A poikilocyte is an abnormally shaped cell. Generally, poikilocytosis can refer to an increase in abnormal red blood cells of any shape where they make up 10% or more of the total population.
Abnormal red blood cells are seen in a wide range of conditions, so poikilocytosis is not specific. However, specific types of poikilocytes may be seen in particular disease states and/or disorders.
or folic acid
), in which case the treatment is to replenish the deficient vitamin. It can be caused by a digestive disease, such as celiac disease, in which case the solution may lie in treating the underlying celiac disease so that nutrients can be properly absorbed.
.
Red blood cell
Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell and the vertebrate organism's principal means of delivering oxygen to the body tissues via the blood flow through the circulatory system...
s as seen on a blood film
Blood film
A blood film or peripheral blood smear is a thin layer of blood smeared on a microscope slide and then stained in such a way to allow the various blood cells to be examined microscopically...
in humans and many wild and domestic species of animals, though they are common in some clinically normal small ruminants, particularly goats.
Normal red blood cells are round, flattened disks that are thinner in the middle than at the edges. A poikilocyte is an abnormally shaped cell. Generally, poikilocytosis can refer to an increase in abnormal red blood cells of any shape where they make up 10% or more of the total population.
Causes of poikilocytosis
Rather than being seen as a sign of any one disease, poikilocytosis is a rather general condition. There may, however, be a predominance of one particular type of abnormally shaped red cells, some of which may indicate possible presence of a specific disease or disorder. For example, poikilocytes are a characteristic finding on the peripheral blood film of individuals affected by pyruvate kinase deficiency.Abnormal red blood cells are seen in a wide range of conditions, so poikilocytosis is not specific. However, specific types of poikilocytes may be seen in particular disease states and/or disorders.
Membrane abnormalities
- AcanthocyteAcanthocyteAcanthocyte, in human biology and medicine, refers to a form of red blood cell that are spiked, or possess various abnormal thorny projections. Acanthocytosis is the condition with acanthocyte-like red blood cells....
s or Spur/Spike cells - Codocytes or Target cells
- Echinocytes and Burr cells
- ElliptocyteElliptocyteElliptocytes, also known as ovalocytes are abnormally shaped red blood cells that appear oval or elongated.These abnormal red blood cells are seen in blood films of patients with:* Hereditary elliptocytosis* Thalassemia* Iron deficiency...
s and Ovalocytes - SpherocyteSpherocytosisSpherocytosis is an auto-hemolytic anemia characterized by the production of red blood cells , or erythrocytes, that are sphere-shaped, rather than bi-concave disk shaped. Spherocytes are found in hereditary spherocytosis and autoimmune hemolytic anemia.It almost always refers to hereditary...
s - Stomatocytes or Mouth cells
- Drepanocytes or Sickle Cells
- DegmacyteDegmacyteA degmacyte is an abnormally shaped red blood cell with one or more semicircular portions removed from the cell margin. These "bites" result from the removal of denatured hemoglobin by macrophages in the spleen...
s or "bite cells"
Trauma
- DacrocyteDacrocyteA dacrocyte is a type of poikilocyte that is shaped like a teardrop . A proliferation of dacrocytes is known as "dacrocytosis".Dacrocytosis can be associated with myelofibrosis.-External links:...
s or Teardrop Cells - Keratocytes
- Microspherocytes and Pyropoikilocytes
- SchistocyteSchistocyteA schistocyte or schizocyte is a fragmented part of a red blood cell. Schistocytes are typically irregularly shaped, jagged, and asymmetrical. A true schistocyte does not have central pallor...
s - Semilunar bodies
Treatment
In all cases, the treatment of poikilocytosis depends on its cause. For example, poikilocytosis can be caused by a vitamin deficiency (e.g. Vitamin B12Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12, vitamin B12 or vitamin B-12, also called cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin with a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and for the formation of blood. It is one of the eight B vitamins...
or folic acid
Folic acid
Folic acid and folate , as well as pteroyl-L-glutamic acid, pteroyl-L-glutamate, and pteroylmonoglutamic acid are forms of the water-soluble vitamin B9...
), in which case the treatment is to replenish the deficient vitamin. It can be caused by a digestive disease, such as celiac disease, in which case the solution may lie in treating the underlying celiac disease so that nutrients can be properly absorbed.
Etymology
The term derives from poikilos (ποικίλος), which means "varied" in Ancient GreekAncient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
.