Question
A 45-year-old chronic alcoholic man presents with mental confusion. The peripheral blood smear is shown in the image. The morphologic abnormalities demonstrated in this blood smear are most likely associated with which of the following conditions?
| A. |
Abnormal spectrin
|
| B. |
Chronic renal failure
|
| C. |
Vitamin B12 deficiency
|
| D. |
Chronic liver failure
|
Show Answer
|
Correct Answer � D
Explanation
|
|
Ans.D. Chronic liver failure
- The image in the question shows Acanthocytosis which results from a defect within the lipid bilayer of the red cell membrane and features spiny projections of the surface, which may be associated with hemolysis.
- The most common cause of acanthocytosis is chronic liver disease, in which increased free cholesterol is deposited within the cell membrane.
- Abnormalities in the lipid membrane cause erythrocytes to become deformed and develop irregular spiny surface projections and centrally dense cytoplasm (acanthocytes or spur cells).
- Chronic renal failure features burr cells.
- Abnormal spectrin causes hereditary spherocytosis.
