In the work-up of a disease, the peripheral smear gives a very good information of what disease the patient may be suffering from. It also gives direction for further evaluation, all impacting the treatment and well being of the patient.
12. Microcytes
• defect in hemoglobin
formation
• characteristic of iron
deficiency anemia
• thalassemia
• severe cases of
anemia of chronic
disease
• sideroblastic anemias
16. Dimorphic Red Cell Population
• two distinct
populations
• development or
resolution of IDA or
anemia of chronic
deficiency
• post blood transfusion
• acquired sideroblastic
anemia
27. Polychromasia
• Shades of bluish grey
• Reticulocytes
• Increased
erythropoiesis
• Absence of
polychromasia
-inadequate bone
marrow response
Aplastic anemia
Pure red cell aplasia
28. Nucleated RBCs
• More common in children
• Severe anemia
• Hemolytic disease of
newborn
• Leucoerythroblastic
anemia:carcinomatoses
and primary myelofibrosis
• Post splenectomy
• Extramedullary
erythropoiesis
• Sickle cell anemia
• Septicemia
• Cyanotic heart failure
30. Erythrocyte inclusions:
Pappenheimer bodies
• Small, peripherally sited
basophilic/ almost black
• Smaller than howell-jolly
inclusions
• Composed of
hemosiderin
• Related to Sideroblastic
erythropoiesis and
hyposplenism
• Confirmed by perls’ stain
• Correspond to siderotic
granules of siderocytes