What is Acanthocytosis?

What is Acanthocytosis?

• Acanthocytosis: A rare disorder where most of the red blood cells are abnormal with spiny projections due to lipid abnormalities. The blood abnormality is seen in conditions such as abetalipoproteinemia, severe liver disease and severe malnutrition. Symptoms and prognosis depend on the underlying disorder.
• Acanthocytosis: Erythrocytes with protoplasmic projections giving the cell a thorny appearance.
  Source - Diseases Database
• Acanthocytosis: the presence of acanthocytes in the blood stream (as in abetalipoproteinemia).
  Source - WordNet 2.1

Acanthocytosis is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Acanthocytosis, or a subtype of Acanthocytosis, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Acanthocytosis as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet

Acanthocytosis: Introduction

What causes Acanthocytosis?

Causes of Acanthocytosis: see causes of Acanthocytosis

What are the symptoms of Acanthocytosis?

Symptoms of Acanthocytosis: see symptoms of Acanthocytosis

How is it treated?

Treatments for Acanthocytosis: see treatments for Acanthocytosis

Name and Aliases of Acanthocytosis

Main name of condition: Acanthocytosis

spur cells

Acanthocytes, Spur cells Source - Diseases Database

Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome, Low-density beta lipoprotein deficiency, Microsomaltriglyceride transfer protein deficiency, Abetalipoproteinemia, ABL
Source - Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

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