What are stomatocytes?

What are stomatocytes?

Stomatocytes are cup- or bowel-shaped erythrocytes which in blood smears appear as cells with a wide slit or stoma (mouth-like) area of central pallor (see Figure 61.2B). The stomatocyte shape is the result of the decreased ratio of the surface area to the volume in the erythrocytes.

What are stomatocytes indicative?

Along with an increased MCV, the presence of stomatocytosis may be a useful erythrocyte indicator of alcoholic liver disease.

How are stomatocytes treated?

Neonates with overhydrated hereditary stomatocytosis (OHSt) or dehydrated hereditary stomatocytosis (DHSt) may require phototherapy, simple blood transfusions, and, occasionally, exchange transfusions for treatment of anemia and hyperbilirubinemia.

What does ovalocytes +1 mean?

Ovalocytes are more fragile than normal red blood cells. About 1% of ovalocytes are found in a normal complete blood count. This percentage increases in all types of anemia and can be as high as 10% of the total RBCs: infectious anemias, cancer and leukaemia, thalassemias, etc.).

What causes tear drop cells?

The presence of teardrop-shaped cells may indicate: Myelofibrosis. Severe iron deficiency. Thalassemia major.

What do ovalocytes cells indicate?

Ovalocytes are egg-shaped RBCs commonly associated with vitamin B12 or folate deficiencies or megaloblastic anemias. The more severe the deficiency, the more prevalent the ovalocytes. Ovalocytes are frequently destroyed in the spleen, causing anemia.

How are stomatocytes formed?

Most cases of stomatocytosis are due to alteration in permeability, leading to an increase in red cell volume. Stomatocytes form at a low blood acidic pH, as seen in exposure to cationic detergents and in patients receiving phenolthiazine or chlorpromazine. Stomatocytosis can be an inherited or acquired condition.

Do smudge cells always mean leukemia?

While smudge cells are not diagnostic of CLL, it has been shown that, in newly diagnosed CLL, a larger percentage of smudge cells is a better prognostic factor. Patients with >30% smudge cells show longer times before requiring treatment and longer survival rates than patients with fewer smudge cells.

Do smudge cells mean CLL?

Smudge cells are ruptured chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells appearing on the blood smears of CLL patients. Our recent findings suggest that the number of smudge cells may have important biologic correlations rather than being only an artifact of slide preparation.

Are tear drop cells serious?

Where are teardrop cells seen?

Teardrop cells may be seen in the setting of marrow infiltration (by fibrosis, granulomatous inflammation, hematologic or metastatic malignancy), splenic abnormalities, megaloblastic anemia, and thalassemia. True teardrop cells have slighly rounded or blunted ends.