Question

When a vet tech is referring to RBCs, what is the difference between Anisocytes and Pikilocytosis?

Answer 1

• Anisocytosis is a medical term used when red blood cells of varying or unequal sizes are found in the  blood smear.
• Two conditions of anisocystosis are macrocytosis (larger than normal)and microcytosis(smaller than normal).
• This is commonly found in anemia and other blood conditions.

While,

• Poikilocytosis is a medical term used when red blood cells of varying shapes are found in the blood smear.
• Poikilocytosis results in flatter,elongated,crescent shaped,or teardrop shaped and other abnormal features like pointy projections in red blood cells.
• In addition to anemia, Poikilocytosis is also caused by liver diseases, inherited blood cell disorders and alcoholism. Poikilocytosis can also be due to the deficiencies of vitamin B12 and folic acid that are essential for red blood cells.