Which morphology is commonly seen in thalassemias and liver disease?

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Multiple Choice

Which morphology is commonly seen in thalassemias and liver disease?

Target cells (codocytes) are common when the red cell membrane surface area relative to cytoplasmic volume increases or when hemoglobin content decreases. In thalassemias, reduced hemoglobin production lowers cytoplasmic hemoglobin, making the cell appear with a prominent outer membrane and a central area of Hb, giving a bullseye appearance. In liver disease, changes in membrane lipids raise the surface-area-to-volume ratio, producing the same bullseye morphology. This combination of factors explains why this appearance is seen in both conditions. Schistocytes are fragmented cells from mechanical damage, drepanocytes are sickle-shaped cells, and elliptocytes are elongated cells seen in other conditions; these do not characteristically reflect the membrane–hemoglobin balance changes seen in thalassemias and liver disease.

Target cells (codocytes) are common when the red cell membrane surface area relative to cytoplasmic volume increases or when hemoglobin content decreases. In thalassemias, reduced hemoglobin production lowers cytoplasmic hemoglobin, making the cell appear with a prominent outer membrane and a central area of Hb, giving a bullseye appearance. In liver disease, changes in membrane lipids raise the surface-area-to-volume ratio, producing the same bullseye morphology. This combination of factors explains why this appearance is seen in both conditions.

Schistocytes are fragmented cells from mechanical damage, drepanocytes are sickle-shaped cells, and elliptocytes are elongated cells seen in other conditions; these do not characteristically reflect the membrane–hemoglobin balance changes seen in thalassemias and liver disease.

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