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acanthocyte (spur cell)

Acanthocytes (spur cells) are irregularly spiculated erythrocytes (multiple spiny cytoplasmic projections) Etiology: 1) acanthocytes in blood a) abetalipoproteinemia b) severe or chronic liver disease (uremia associated with echinocytes) c) anorexia nervosa d) malabsorption 2) acanthocytes in urine - glomerular bleeding, glomerulonephritis [2] * described in [2] as erythrocytes with 'Mickey Mouse' ears in the urine Differential diagnosis: - echinocytes in blood of patients with uremia

Properties

GENERAL: erythrocyte-variant QUANTITY: 4.2E12-6.2E12 CELLS/UL

References

  1. Mayo Internal Medicine Board Review, 1998-99, Prakash UBS (ed) Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1998, pg 414
  2. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 16, 18. American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2012, 2018, - Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 19 Board Basics. An Enhancement to MKSAP19. American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2022
  3. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 20 American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2025