echinocyte (burr cell)

Introduction

Echinocytes (burr cells) are uniformly spiculated erythrocytes (multiple spiny cytoplasmic projections)

Etiology

• seen in association with uremia & loss of red cell volume.

Laboratory

• burr cells in blood
• burr cells in CSF
• burr cells in urine sediment

Differential diagnosis

• distinguished from acanthocytes which have irregularly distributed spicules

* acanthocytes may be seen in severe or chronic liver disease, hence also uremia?

More general terms

• erythrocyte-variant