A blister cell is an erythrocyte with a blister-like area at its periphery.
Appearance: small spherical or ovoid area devoid of hemoglobin (clear) at the periphery of cell delimited on one side by the red blood cell membrane
Occurrence: usually found in the company of bite cells in a patient with Heinz bodies
Causes of Heinz bodies:
(1) G6PD deficiency or other enzyme deficiency that makes the erythrocyte susceptible to oxidative injury
(2) exposure to oxidative drugs or chemicals
(3) unstable hemoglobin
(4) hemolytic anemia associated with severe alcoholic liver disease (Zieve syndrome)
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Specialty: Hematology Oncology
