Question

Correlate poikilocytosis types with high MCHC's (indices).

Answer 1

Poikilocytosis is defined as presence of poikilocytes in the blood picture or CBC. Poikilocytes are Red Blood Cells (RBCs) with abnormal shapes. Conditions associated with Poikilocytosis and high MCHC are:

1. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia:
2. Vitamin B 12 deficiency:
3. Hereditary spherocytosis:
4. Cold agglutinins:
5. Severe burns:

No.	Abnormal Cell Type (Poikilocyte)	Characteristics	Associated Conditions
	Spherocytes	RBCs smaller than normal No central pallor Round rather than disc shaped	Hereditary spherocytosis Certain hemolytic anemias (autoimmune hemolytic anemia) Severe Burns
	Schistocytes (fragmented red cells)	Red cells fragments and pieces Vary widely in size and shape	Severe burns Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
	Ovalocytes (Elliptocytes)	RBCs are elongated- oval, cigar, or pencil- shaped.	Hereditary elliptocytosis Megaloblastic anemia Myelophthisic anemia Certain thalassemias Severe iron deficiency