Spur cell hemolytic anemia is a form of hemolytic anemia

Hemolytic anemia

Hemolytic anemia is a form of anemia due to hemolysis, the abnormal breakdown of red blood cells , either in the blood vessels or elsewhere in the human body . It has numerous possible causes, ranging from relatively harmless to life-threatening...

 that results secondary to severe impaired liver function or cirrhosis

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...

. Chronic liver disease impairs the liver's ability to esterificate cholesterol, causing free cholesterol to bind to the red cell membrane, increasing its surface area. This condition also creates rough or thorny projections on the erythrocyte named acanthocyte

Acanthocyte

Acanthocyte, 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....

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