Acanthocyte

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020

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Synonym(s)

Acanthocyte; Acanthocytes

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Pathological form of the erythrocytes. An acanthocyte has pointed spines ("sting cells") due to a disproportion between cell volume and cell membrane. The enlargement of the cell surface is caused by an increased absorption of cholesterol into the cell membrane. Acanthocytes are observed for example in some liver and blood diseases, after splenectomy and in some rare neurological diseases, the so-called neuro-acanthocytosis syndromes.

Note(s)This section has been translated automatically.

Morphological differentiation from fragmentocytes and the so-called thorn-apple forms.

Authors

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer