Echinocytes (burr cells) are red blood cells with multiple projections.
Features of echinocytes:
(1) projections show a regular distribution
(2) projections short and uniform
(3) central pallor
(4) may be microcytic or normal in size
Conditions associated with echinocytes:
(1) cirrhosis (related to abnormal HDL)
(2) Duchenne muscular dystrophy
(3) malnutrition (sometimes with hypophosphatemia)
(4) splenic angiosarcoma
(5) sickle cell anemia
(6) in vitro artifact
(7) uremia
(8) phosphokinase deficiency
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Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Clinical Laboratory
