Hem Test 1: Blood Cell Morphology

Front 1

Describe anisocytosis

Back 1

red cells varying widely in size

Front 2

Describe microcytosis. Associated with what 3 pathologies?

Back 2

red cells that are too small.

Iron deficiency
thalassemias
sideroblastic anemia

Front 3

MCV

Back 3

mean corpuscular volume

Front 4

Describe macrocytosis and its associated pathologies.

Back 4

Large red cells.

Associated with:
elevated reticulocyte ct (more released, avg MCV goes up)
liver disease (makes too much membrane)
B12/folate deficiency
thyroid disease
chemotherapy
anti-retrovirals (all changes in DNA synthesis)

Front 5

Describe hypochromasia. How do you measure?

Back 5

Red cells that have too little hemoglobin
(central pallor is more than 1/3)

measured by MCH

Front 6

Describe polychromasia. Which cells are likely to have this characteristic?

Back 6

Red cells that have more of a bluish tinge.
Probably reticulocytes

Front 7

Describe poikilocytosis.

Back 7

Red cells that vary widely in shape.

Front 8

Associations of Target RBCs.

Back 8

liver disease (more membrane)
thalassemias
Hemoglobin C
After splenectomy

Front 9

Describe spherocytes. Associations?

Back 9

Loss of central pallor.
Seen in:
hereditary spherocytosis
autoimmune hemolysis

Front 10

Differentiate spherocytes v. schistocytes.

Back 10

Schistocytes have sharp edges

Associated with
Microangiophatic Hemolytic Anemia (MAHA)

Front 11

What is present in echinocytes? How are these different from acanthocytes?

Back 11

Small regular projections in echinocytes
-seen in renal disease
Acanthocytes are much more irregular
-seen in liver disease

Front 12

When are teardrop cells seen?

Back 12

myelophthisic processes (diseases of marrow infiltration)

Seen in:
-myelofibrosis
-tumor metastatic to marrow
-granulomatous diseases
-leukemias and lymphomas
-massive splenomegaly

(things in the bone marrow)

Front 13

Peripheral, small, round, purple inclusions within red cells that represent nuclear remnants; seen when?

Back 13

Howell-Jolly bodies; after splenectomy

(can go away after splenic re-growth)

Front 14

What is visible after splenectomy?

Back 14

Howell-Jolly bodies, target cells, acanthocytes, schistocytes, nucleated red cells

Front 15

Linear arrangements of red cells?
Seen when?

Back 15

Rouleaux; "piles of coins on a plate"
Inc levels of Ig, such as multiple myeloma or Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia

Front 16

Agglutination occurs when?

Back 16

Coated with IgM

Front 17

Hypochromic, microcytic cells seen when?

Back 17

Iron deficiency anemia (also inc platelets)

Front 18

5 pieces present in B-thalassemia major

Back 18

target cells
Howell-Jolly bodies
Nucleated red cell
Schistocyte
Basophilic stippling
(maybe teardrops too)

Front 19

2 things seen in megaloblastic anemia sometimes

Back 19

macrocytic red cells
hypersegmented neutrophils (high yield)

Front 20

Components of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Back 20

(anisocytosis)
spherocytes
polychromatophilic