Red blood cell, shape abnormality | Schistocytes |
Definition | Schistocytes, or schizocytes (from the Greek word schisto, broken or cleft) are circulating fragments of red blood cells or red blood cells from which cytoplasmic fragments have been lost. They lack central pallor and are often deeply staining. |
Conditions associated with the shape abnormality | Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), burns, valve hemolysis, march hemoglobinuria |
Mechanism of formation | Schistocyte formation results from mechanical damage to the red cell caused by fibrin strands on the endothelial surface, excess of turbulence of blood or thermal injury. |
History | Term was introduced in 1891 by Paul Ehrlich. |
Source/author | William Aird |
Reviewed and edited by | Parul Bhargava |
References | Int J Lab Hematol 2012;34:107 |