Overview Type Example Associated Pathology Acanthocyte (spur cell) Liver disease Abetalipoproteinemia Basophilic stippling Lead poisoning Bite cell G6PD deficiency Elliptocyte Hereditary elliptocytosis Macro-ovalocyte Megaloblastic anemia Marrow failure Ringed sideroblasts Sideroblastic anemia Schistocyte/helmet cell DIC TTP/HUS Traumatic hemolysis Sickle cell Sickle cell anemia Spherocyte Hereditary spherocytosis Autoimmune hemolysis Teardrop cell (dacrocyte) Bone marrow infiltration (e.g. myelofibrosis) Target cell Asplenia Liver disease Thalassemia HbC disease Heinz bodies Oxidation of iron: changes from ferrous (2+) to ferric (3+) Denaturation of hemoglobin: results in precipitation damages RBC membrane Macrophages attempt to remove: forms bite cells (See above) Associated with α-thalassemia and G6PD deficiency Howell-Jolly bodies Basophilic nuclear remnants found in RBCs Associated with functional hyposplenia or asplenia