Description:

Erythrocytes that have lost their discoid shape and which have 8-10 spicules of uneven length irregularly distributed over the red cell surface. They have a star- like shape.

Size:

Changeable.

Shape:

Acanthocytes appear smaller than discoid cells because they have spheroidal shape. Characteristically, the spicules are distributed irregularly over the surface, and individual spicules differ from each other. It resembles head burdock.

Significance:     

They can be found in patients with an inherited decrease or complete deficiency of
-lipoproteins (abetalipoproteinemia) and in patients with some neurological diseases. They can sometimes be found in azotemia, stomach cancer, and bleeding stomach ulcer.