Nucleated Red Cells
Overview
- Mature red blood cells are anuclear, as they extrude their nuclei in the bone marrow prior to entering circulation. The presence of nucleated red blood cells is an abnormal finding.
- The presence of nucleated red blood cells and left shift is referred to as a leukoerythroblastic blood film. If a patient has nucleated red cells on their film, always look for the presence of band forms, metamyelocytes and myelocytes.
Causes of Nucleated Red Blood Cells
Increased Erythropoiesis
- Severe anaemia
- Severe sepsis
- Hypoxia
- Pregnancy
Bone Marrow Infiltration
- Myeloproliferative neoplasms
- Leukaemias
- Lymphoma
- Myeloma
- Metastatic cancer
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