Acanthocytes are a distinct structural (and functional) entity compared to echinocytes. The differential, however, is not always clear. A summary of morphologic characteristic to make a clear distinction is provided, using the blood of a rare neurologic disease with acanthocytic transformation of red blood cells.

Neuroacanthocytosis is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease, characterized by chorea, dementia, seizure, acanthocytes on peripheral blood smear and caudate atrophy on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).1,2 These patients have severe orofacial dyskinesia and especially eating dystonia that causes severe eating problems and tongue and cheek biting. Eating or feeding dystonia, in c...

Microscope images analysis of erythrocyte (red blood cells, RBCs) was a widely used method for medical purpose. Usually manual measuring and analysis of the images were subject to time-consuming, errors and unstability of results. The images analysis method had been combined with computer image processing techniques in this research. A measuring and analysis system for microscope images(MIAS) o...

Neuroacanthocytosis is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder with syndromes of variable inheritance. These hyperkinetic movement disorders are reported to be very rare. It is associated with choreiform movements, orofacial and lingual dyskinesias and acanthocytes on peripheral smear and normolipoproteinemia. Here we present a similar case.

Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are a popular companion animal, food animal, and animal model of human disease. Abnormal red cell shapes (poikilocytes) have been observed in rabbits, but their significance is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and type of poikilocytosis in pet rabbits and its association with physiologic factors, clinical disease, and laborat...

The chorea-acanthocytosis syndrome (CHAC) is a rare disorder beginning in late adolescent or adult life in association with acanthocytosis, a normal lipid profile and characterized by progressive neurological disease. The inheritance is usually autosomal recessive, although apparent sporadic and autosomal dominant instances are also known. We report here a young man who presented with choreo-at...

An adult male presented with dyskinetic movements of the face and choreiform movements associated with dysphagia and vocaltics.Obsessive compulsive symptoms and depressive symptoms occurred 3 months after the onset of the illness.Peripheral blood smear revealed an excess of acanthocytes. A diagnosis of neuroacanthocytosis was made and he was started on treatment.