Blood/Blood Cells and Cellular Components ›› Red Blood Cells ›› Abnormal

Spherocyte*


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› Microscopic Features:

• Usually smaller than a normal RBC
• MCV may be normal or slightly decreased
• Very Round
• No central pallor

› Normal % blood-PB, marrow-BM, lymphoid tissue-LN:

• PB: Rare to None
• BM: Rare to None
• LN: Rare to None

› May Resemble:

• Microcytic RBC [Compare]
• Polychromatophilic RBC [Compare]
• Macrocytic RBC [Compare]
• Normal Mature RBC [Compare]

› Differential Diagnoses:

Increased in: Hereditary spherocytosis Autoimmune hemolytic anemia Burn patients Artifact

› Classic Immunophenotype:

• N/A

› Cartoon Image:


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› Misc:

• Similar to Hereditary Stomatocytosis and Hereditary Elliptocytosis, Hereditary Spherocytosis (HS) is also due to an underlying RBC membrane defect (The membrane defect in HS is in many instances due to spectrin, ankyrin, band 3 protein, or protein 4.1). The MCHC value is usually increased in patients with HS