Poikilocytosis

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**Poikilocytosis**
*Classifications and external resources*
ICD-10	R 71.
DiseasesDB	10207

Poikilocytosis is an increase in the number of abnormally shaped red blood cells as seen on a blood film. It is commonly seen as a sign of iron-deficiency anemia. Normal red blood cells are round, flattened disks that are thinner in the middle than at the edges, whereas a poikilocyte is pear-shaped and so also called a teardrop cell. However, poikilocytosis can refer to an increase in abnormal red blood cells of any shape where they make up 10% or more of the total population.

1 Causes of poikilocytosis
2 Treatment
3 See also

[edit] Causes of poikilocytosis

Abnormal red blood cells are seen in a wide range of conditions, so poikilocytosis is not specific.

[edit] Developmental macrocytosis

caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
nuclear maturation defect in the early nucleated red cells of the bone marrow leading to the development of oval macrocytes
megaloblastic anemia.
Thalassemias

[edit] Membrane Abnormalities

Spherocytes
Elliptocytes and Ovalocytes
Echinocytes and Burr Cells
Acanthocytes
Stomatocytes
Codocytes

[edit] Trauma

Schistocytes
Keratocytes
Dacrocytes
Microspherocytes and Pyropoikilocytes
Semilunar Bodies

[edit] Treatment

In all cases, the treatment of poikilocytosis depends on its cause. For example, poikilocytosis can be caused by a vitamin deficiency, in which case the treatment is to take Vitamin B12 or folic acid. It can be caused by a digestive disease, such as celiac disease, in which case the solution may lay in treating the underlying celiac disease so that nutrients can be properly absorbed. Every treatment needs to take the underlying cause into account.