neuroacanthocytosis

Term: neuroacanthocytosis

Literally meaning: “neuronal condition with  thorny cell”

Origin: Anc Greek

 νεύρον/nevron(=neuron) > νευρά/nevra (=catgut)

> (νεαρόν/nearon (=young) because catgut were made from intestines of young animals.

+άκανθα/acantha(=thorn, sharp spiny structure)

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

+(-ωσις)/(-osis ) (=suffix denoting “process” or “state”)

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

Neuroacanthocytosis is a group of rare genetic and heterogenous neurodegenerative syndromes associated with   compined features including acantocytosis (thorny red  cells).