POIKILOCYTOSIS Meaning and
Definition
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Poikilocytosis is a medical term derived from the Greek words "poikilos" meaning irregular or diverse, and "kutos" meaning cell. It refers to an abnormal condition characterized by the presence of abnormally shaped or irregularly shaped red blood cells (RBCs) in the bloodstream. These irregularities can involve changes in RBC shape, size, membrane structure, or other morphological features.
In a healthy individual, RBCs typically maintain a round and disk-like shape, which aids in their efficient transportation of oxygen throughout the body. However, in cases of poikilocytosis, this normal discoid shape is disrupted, leading to the appearance of various abnormal RBC shapes. Examples of these irregular shapes include elongation, teardrop-like shapes, bubbles, or spiny projections, which can be observed under a microscope.
Poikilocytosis is often associated with certain medical conditions such as anemia, vitamin deficiencies, genetic disorders, or other underlying health conditions that disrupt normal red blood cell production or affect their structure. This condition can also be an indicator of underlying health issues, such as liver disease, kidney disease, or certain types of cancer.
Diagnosis of poikilocytosis can be achieved through a blood smear examination, where a sample of blood is analyzed under a microscope by a trained medical professional. Treatment usually involves addressing the underlying cause of the abnormal RBC shape. In some cases, treatment may involve blood transfusions or specific medications to manage the underlying condition and restore normal RBC morphology. Regular monitoring of blood cell counts and morphology is important to track changes and assess the effectiveness of treatment.
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The occurrence of red blood-corpuscles of irregular shape, pecilocytosis.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for POIKILOCYTOSIS
- ooikilocytosis
- loikilocytosis
- -oikilocytosis
- 0oikilocytosis
- piikilocytosis
- pkikilocytosis
- plikilocytosis
- ppikilocytosis
- p0ikilocytosis
- p9ikilocytosis
- poukilocytosis
- pojkilocytosis
- pokkilocytosis
- pookilocytosis
- po9kilocytosis
- po8kilocytosis
- poijilocytosis
- poimilocytosis
- poililocytosis
- poioilocytosis
Etymology of POIKILOCYTOSIS
The word "poikilocytosis" is derived from Greek roots. "Poikilo" comes from the Greek word "poikilos", which means "varied" or "irregular". "Cytosis" is derived from the Greek word "kytos", meaning "cell". So, "poikilocytosis" refers to a condition characterized by the presence of irregularly shaped or varied-shaped red blood cells in the bloodstream.
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