Acanthocyte

Infrequent acanthocytes are often encountered in hyposplenic conditions, but where they are very frequent this may indicate an uncommon or serious cause which needs to be communicated to clinicians. Light or severe liver disease causing coagulopathy and spur cell (acanthocytic) anaemia.

https://haematologyetc.co.uk/index.php?title=Acanthocytes

Primary Causes:

  • Altered cell membrane lipid balance (frequent abnormal forms)
  • Abetalipoproteinaemia or hypobetalipoproteinaemia
  • Severe liver disease
  • Zieve Syndrome
  • Anorexia nervosa or malnutrition
  • Hypothyroidism and myxoedema
  • Neuroacanthocytosis
 

Age-related changes to cell membrane (generally infrequent abnormal forms):

  • Infrequent forms occurs as blood cells age – more frequent in hyposplenism
  • Abnormal cell membrane proteins
  • McLeod phenotype
  • Null Lutherian
 

Metabolic (abnormal forms may be visible only after splenectomy):

  • Pyruvate kinase deficiency (acanthocytes are atypical and partly resemble echinocytes)
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