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acanthocyte (spur cell)

Acanthocytes (spur cells) are irregularly spiculated erythrocytes (multiple spiny cytoplasmic projections), distinguished from echinocytes which have uniformly distributed spicules. Etiology: 1) acanthocytes in blood a) abetalipoproteinemia b) severe or chronic liver disease 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

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