Elliptocytes are
elongated oval-shaped red blood cells
. Very rare elliptocytes may be seen in normal blood smears. Elliptocytes may be increased in iron deficiency anemia (where they are sometimes referred to as “pencil cells”) and marrow infiltrative processes (with teardrop cells).
What causes Elliptocytosis?
Hereditary elliptocytosis is caused by
a genetic change in either the EPB41, SPTA1, or SPTB gene
, and is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Hereditary pyropoikilocytosis is a related condition with more serious symptoms, and is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.
How is Elliptocytosis treated?
There is no treatment needed for the disorder
unless severe anemia or anemia symptoms occur. Surgery to remove the spleen may decrease the rate of red blood cell damage.
In which conditions can you see elliptocytes?
Elliptocytes can occur in many other conditions (eg,
iron deficiency
, leukemias, megaloblastic anemias, myeloproliferative diseases, myelodysplastic syndromes) but usually do not reach the proportions observed in patients with HE.
What does it mean when ovalocytes are present?
Elliptocytes
(ovalocytes)
Usually, the presence of a large number of elliptocytes signals an inherited condition known as hereditary elliptocytosis. Moderate numbers of elliptocytes may be seen in people with: thalassemia. myelofibrosis.
Are elliptocytes normal?
Rare elliptocytes (less than 1%)
on a peripheral blood smear are a normal finding
. These abnormal red blood cells are seen in higher numbers in the blood films of patients with blood disorders such as: Hereditary elliptocytosis and Southeast Asian ovalocytosis.
Is hereditary Elliptocytosis a rare disease?
Hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) is a
rare clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder of
the red cell membrane characterized by manifestations ranging from mild to severe transfusion-dependent hemolytic anemia but with the majority of patients being asymptomatic.
What are the problems caused by Anaemia?
Left untreated, anemia can cause many health problems, such as:
Extreme fatigue
. Severe anemia can make you so tired that you can’t complete everyday tasks. Pregnancy complications.
What does Microcytosis mean?
Microcytosis is typically an incidental finding in asymptomatic patients who received a complete blood count for other reasons. The condition is defined as
a mean corpuscular volume of less than 80 μm
3
(80 fL) in adults
. The most common causes of microcytosis are iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia trait.
Can I donate blood if I have Elliptocytosis?
1. Must not donate if:
Clinically significant haemolysis
.
Is sickle cell bad?
People with sickle cell disease produce unusually shaped red blood cells that can cause problems because they do not live as long as healthy blood cells and can block blood vessels. Sickle cell disease is
a serious and lifelong health condition
, although treatment can help manage many of the symptoms.
What is Ovalocytosis?
Hereditary elliptocytosis, also known as ovalocytosis, is
an inherited blood disorder in which an abnormally large number of the person’s red blood cells are elliptical rather than
the typical biconcave disc shape. Such morphologically distinctive erythrocytes are sometimes referred to as elliptocytes or ovalocytes.
What is a Poikilocyte?
Poikilocytosis is the term
for abnormally shaped red blood cells in the blood
. Poikilocytes may be flat, elongated, teardrop-shaped, crescent-shaped, sickle-shaped, or may have pointy projections, or other abnormal features.
Is it bad to have Ovalocytes?
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.
What is a rare Ovalocytes?
A rare ovalocyte/elliptocyte
(less than 1%)
may be found on almost any peripheral blood smear. However, when they comprise more than 25% of the red blood cells on the blood smear, hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) is probable.
What does Reticulocytosis mean?
Reticulocytosis is
a condition where there is an increase in reticulocytes, immature red blood cells
. It is commonly seen in anemia. They are seen on blood films when the bone marrow is highly active in an attempt to replace red blood cell loss such as in haemolytic anaemia, haemorrhage.
