bite cell

Introduction

Erythrocytes that appear to have a bite taken out of them.

Etiology

• G6PD deficiency
• drug-induced oxidative hemolysis (even without G6PD deficiency)
• unstable hemoglobinopathies

Pathology

• hemoglobin precipitates (Heinz bodies noted on supravital staining) attach to the erythrocyte membrane & are removed when these cells pass through the spleen
• eccentrically located hemoglobin confined to one side of erythrocyte

Laboratory

• bite cells in blood

* images

More general terms

• erythrocyte-variant

Additional terms

• glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency; chronic non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia (CNSHA)