White Blood Cell Disorders and Platelets:: 8. Miscellaneous Smear Reviews

Erythrophagocytosis

  • Illustrated in the photograph is a phagocyte devouring several erythrocytes.
  • This uncommon phenomenon occurs in the bone marrow and in the spleen as part of the process of erythrocyte destruction.
  • Erythrophagocytosis is found in histological sections of the spleen in cases of hemolytic anemia.
  • This phenomenon appears also in splenic sections in lupus erythematosis, and in rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Our example is from a patient with a myeloproliferative disorder and is a rare example of a circulating erythrophagocytic cell in the peripheral blood.

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