acanthocyte

Term: acanthocyte

Literally meaning: “thorny cell”

Origin: Anc Greek

άκανθα/acantha(=thorn, sharp spiny structure)

+κυτο-/cyto- (=-cyte combining form meaning “cell” derived from anc Greek κυτίον/kytion/cytion=box, container)

Coined/History 

The term “acantosytosis” was itself coined in 1950  by Bassen in order to decsribe the dysmorphic erythrocytes seen in the Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome of fat malabsorption. Acantocytes in the setting of neurological disorders was first reported by Rovino and Pirone in 1963.   

Sourse

Khalid Al-Shali and Robert A. Hegele “Acantocytes and Disorders of Lipoprotein Metabolism” Neuroacnthocytosis syndromes, 2005, part 2.

Definition

Acanthocyte is a type of red blood cell that is characterised by its thorny appearance caused by proplasmic projections. Acantocytes are seen in abetalipoproteinemia cirrhosis and other conditions.Up to 3% acanthocytes in the peripheral blood smear may be considered normal.