Spherocytosis
March 30th, 2020
Overview
Spherocytes are round cells with loss of central pallor.
This occurs due to a reduction in the cell membrane size without a reduction in the size of the cytoplasm, which may occur due to direct damage or removal of a portion of the cell membrane by phagocytes.
Causes of Spherocytosis
- Hereditary spherocytosis
- Immune haemolysis - warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, cold agglutinin haemolysis, transfusion reaction, haemolytic disease of the newborn, drug-induced haemolysis
- Clostridium infection
- Severe burns
- Snake bite
Red cells have a spherocytoid appearance in the thinner part of the blood film, so it is important to look at a blood film in the area where red cells are first starting to touch.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------