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Dysmorphic red blood cell formation
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José Lucas Daza, MD
Marcelo De Rosa, MD
Graciela De Rosa, MD

A 23-year-old woman presented with hematuria. Her blood pressure was normal, and she had no rash, joint pain, or other symptoms. Urinalysis was positive for proteinuria and hematuria, and urinary sediment analysis showed dysmorphic red blood cells (RBCs) and red cell casts, leading to a diagnosis of glomerulonephritis. She had proteinuria of 1.2 g/24 hours. Laboratory tests for systemic diseases were negative. Renal biopsy study revealed stage III immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy.

See related editorial

GLOMERULAR HEMATURIA

Glomerular hematuria may represent an immune-mediated injury to the glomerular capillary wall, but it can also be present in noninflammatory glomerulopathies.1

The type of dysmorphic RBCs (crenated or misshapen cells, acanthocytes) may be of diagnostic importance. In particular, dysmorphic red cells alone may be predictive of only renal bleeding, while acanthocytes (ring-shaped RBCs with vesicle-shaped protrusions best seen on phase-contrast microscopy) appear to be most predictive of glomerular disease.2 For example, in 1 study,3 the presence of acanthocytes comprising at least 5% of excreted RBCs had a sensitivity of 52% for glomerular disease and a specificity of 98%.3

Figure 1. A red blood cell (red arrow) is seen crossing the basement membrane (blue arrow) and losing its shape, one of the mechanisms proposed for acanthocyte formation; the yellow arrow points to the urinary space (Masson trichrome stain, × 1,000).
How erythrocytes become dysmorphic is not entirely known.4 In vitro, changes in osmolality or pH do not produce dysmorphism, but it can occur along the different tubular segments.5,6 In addition, RBCs can lose their shape when crossing the glomerular basement membrane (Figure 1) and during passage along the tubular system.4

Examination of urinary sediment shows typical dysmorphic hematuria with acanthocytes (× 400).
Figure 2. Examination of urinary sediment shows typical dysmorphic hematuria with acanthocytes (× 400).
Dysmorphic urinary RBCs have been regarded as an indicator of glomerular pathology,7 and dysmorphic RBCs in urinary sediment (Figure 2) are also considered to represent renal pathology. On electron microscopy, the glomerular basement membrane is usually 300 to 400 nm wide, whereas the diameter of the red blood cell is 7 µm. The change in RBC shape is manifested as blebs, budding, and segmental loss of membrane, resulting in marked variability in shape and in a reduction in mean cell size. These changes may be due to mechanical trauma as the cells pass through rents in the glomerular basement membrane and to osmotic trauma as cells flow through the nephron.8

References
  1. Collar JE, Ladva S, Cairns TD, Cattell V. Red cell traverse through thin glomerular basement membranes. Kidney Int 2001; 59:2069–2072.
  2. Fogazzi GB, Ponticelli C, Ritz E. The Urinary Sediment: An Integrated View. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1999:30.
  3. Köhler H, Wandel E, Brunck B. Acanthocyturia—a characteristic marker for glomerular bleeding. Kidney Int 1991; 40:115–120.
  4. Fogazzi GB. The Urinary Sediment: An Integrated View. 3rd ed. France: Elsevier; 2010.
  5. Briner VA, Reinhart WH. In vitro production of ‘glomerular red cells’: role of pH and osmolality. Nephron 1990; 56:13–18.
  6. Schramek P, Moritsch A, Haschkowitz H, Binder BR, Maier M. In vitro generation of dysmorphic erythrocytes. Kidney Int 1989; 36:72–77.
  7. Pollock C, Liu PL, Györy AZ, et al. Dysmorphism of urinary red blood cells—value in diagnosis. Kidney Int 1989; 36:1045–1049.
  8. Shichiri M, Hosoda K, Nishio Y, et al. Red-cell-volume distribution curves in diagnosis of glomerular and non-glomerular haematuria. Lancet 1988; 1:908–911.
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José Lucas Daza, MD
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Clinicas, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Marcelo De Rosa, MD
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Clinicas, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Graciela De Rosa, MD
Department of Pathology, Hospital de Clinicas, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Address: Marcelo De Rosa, MD, Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Clinicas, University of Buenos Aires, 3561 Rivadavia Avenue, Buenos Aires 1204 Argentina; marceloderosa@hospitaldeclinicas.uba.ar

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Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine - 85(1)
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Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
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Nephrology
Immunology
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hematuria, dysmorphic, red blood cells, RBCs, IgA nephropathy, Jose Lucas Daza, Marcelo De Rosa, Graciela De Rosa
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Author(s)
José Lucas Daza, MD
Marcelo De Rosa, MD
Graciela De Rosa, MD
Author(s)
José Lucas Daza, MD
Marcelo De Rosa, MD
Graciela De Rosa, MD
Author and Disclosure Information

José Lucas Daza, MD
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Clinicas, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Marcelo De Rosa, MD
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Clinicas, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Graciela De Rosa, MD
Department of Pathology, Hospital de Clinicas, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Address: Marcelo De Rosa, MD, Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Clinicas, University of Buenos Aires, 3561 Rivadavia Avenue, Buenos Aires 1204 Argentina; marceloderosa@hospitaldeclinicas.uba.ar

Author and Disclosure Information

José Lucas Daza, MD
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Clinicas, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Marcelo De Rosa, MD
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Clinicas, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Graciela De Rosa, MD
Department of Pathology, Hospital de Clinicas, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Address: Marcelo De Rosa, MD, Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Clinicas, University of Buenos Aires, 3561 Rivadavia Avenue, Buenos Aires 1204 Argentina; marceloderosa@hospitaldeclinicas.uba.ar

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A 23-year-old woman presented with hematuria. Her blood pressure was normal, and she had no rash, joint pain, or other symptoms. Urinalysis was positive for proteinuria and hematuria, and urinary sediment analysis showed dysmorphic red blood cells (RBCs) and red cell casts, leading to a diagnosis of glomerulonephritis. She had proteinuria of 1.2 g/24 hours. Laboratory tests for systemic diseases were negative. Renal biopsy study revealed stage III immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy.

See related editorial

GLOMERULAR HEMATURIA

Glomerular hematuria may represent an immune-mediated injury to the glomerular capillary wall, but it can also be present in noninflammatory glomerulopathies.1

The type of dysmorphic RBCs (crenated or misshapen cells, acanthocytes) may be of diagnostic importance. In particular, dysmorphic red cells alone may be predictive of only renal bleeding, while acanthocytes (ring-shaped RBCs with vesicle-shaped protrusions best seen on phase-contrast microscopy) appear to be most predictive of glomerular disease.2 For example, in 1 study,3 the presence of acanthocytes comprising at least 5% of excreted RBCs had a sensitivity of 52% for glomerular disease and a specificity of 98%.3

Figure 1. A red blood cell (red arrow) is seen crossing the basement membrane (blue arrow) and losing its shape, one of the mechanisms proposed for acanthocyte formation; the yellow arrow points to the urinary space (Masson trichrome stain, × 1,000).
How erythrocytes become dysmorphic is not entirely known.4 In vitro, changes in osmolality or pH do not produce dysmorphism, but it can occur along the different tubular segments.5,6 In addition, RBCs can lose their shape when crossing the glomerular basement membrane (Figure 1) and during passage along the tubular system.4

Examination of urinary sediment shows typical dysmorphic hematuria with acanthocytes (× 400).
Figure 2. Examination of urinary sediment shows typical dysmorphic hematuria with acanthocytes (× 400).
Dysmorphic urinary RBCs have been regarded as an indicator of glomerular pathology,7 and dysmorphic RBCs in urinary sediment (Figure 2) are also considered to represent renal pathology. On electron microscopy, the glomerular basement membrane is usually 300 to 400 nm wide, whereas the diameter of the red blood cell is 7 µm. The change in RBC shape is manifested as blebs, budding, and segmental loss of membrane, resulting in marked variability in shape and in a reduction in mean cell size. These changes may be due to mechanical trauma as the cells pass through rents in the glomerular basement membrane and to osmotic trauma as cells flow through the nephron.8

A 23-year-old woman presented with hematuria. Her blood pressure was normal, and she had no rash, joint pain, or other symptoms. Urinalysis was positive for proteinuria and hematuria, and urinary sediment analysis showed dysmorphic red blood cells (RBCs) and red cell casts, leading to a diagnosis of glomerulonephritis. She had proteinuria of 1.2 g/24 hours. Laboratory tests for systemic diseases were negative. Renal biopsy study revealed stage III immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy.

See related editorial

GLOMERULAR HEMATURIA

Glomerular hematuria may represent an immune-mediated injury to the glomerular capillary wall, but it can also be present in noninflammatory glomerulopathies.1

The type of dysmorphic RBCs (crenated or misshapen cells, acanthocytes) may be of diagnostic importance. In particular, dysmorphic red cells alone may be predictive of only renal bleeding, while acanthocytes (ring-shaped RBCs with vesicle-shaped protrusions best seen on phase-contrast microscopy) appear to be most predictive of glomerular disease.2 For example, in 1 study,3 the presence of acanthocytes comprising at least 5% of excreted RBCs had a sensitivity of 52% for glomerular disease and a specificity of 98%.3

Figure 1. A red blood cell (red arrow) is seen crossing the basement membrane (blue arrow) and losing its shape, one of the mechanisms proposed for acanthocyte formation; the yellow arrow points to the urinary space (Masson trichrome stain, × 1,000).
How erythrocytes become dysmorphic is not entirely known.4 In vitro, changes in osmolality or pH do not produce dysmorphism, but it can occur along the different tubular segments.5,6 In addition, RBCs can lose their shape when crossing the glomerular basement membrane (Figure 1) and during passage along the tubular system.4

Examination of urinary sediment shows typical dysmorphic hematuria with acanthocytes (× 400).
Figure 2. Examination of urinary sediment shows typical dysmorphic hematuria with acanthocytes (× 400).
Dysmorphic urinary RBCs have been regarded as an indicator of glomerular pathology,7 and dysmorphic RBCs in urinary sediment (Figure 2) are also considered to represent renal pathology. On electron microscopy, the glomerular basement membrane is usually 300 to 400 nm wide, whereas the diameter of the red blood cell is 7 µm. The change in RBC shape is manifested as blebs, budding, and segmental loss of membrane, resulting in marked variability in shape and in a reduction in mean cell size. These changes may be due to mechanical trauma as the cells pass through rents in the glomerular basement membrane and to osmotic trauma as cells flow through the nephron.8

References
  1. Collar JE, Ladva S, Cairns TD, Cattell V. Red cell traverse through thin glomerular basement membranes. Kidney Int 2001; 59:2069–2072.
  2. Fogazzi GB, Ponticelli C, Ritz E. The Urinary Sediment: An Integrated View. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1999:30.
  3. Köhler H, Wandel E, Brunck B. Acanthocyturia—a characteristic marker for glomerular bleeding. Kidney Int 1991; 40:115–120.
  4. Fogazzi GB. The Urinary Sediment: An Integrated View. 3rd ed. France: Elsevier; 2010.
  5. Briner VA, Reinhart WH. In vitro production of ‘glomerular red cells’: role of pH and osmolality. Nephron 1990; 56:13–18.
  6. Schramek P, Moritsch A, Haschkowitz H, Binder BR, Maier M. In vitro generation of dysmorphic erythrocytes. Kidney Int 1989; 36:72–77.
  7. Pollock C, Liu PL, Györy AZ, et al. Dysmorphism of urinary red blood cells—value in diagnosis. Kidney Int 1989; 36:1045–1049.
  8. Shichiri M, Hosoda K, Nishio Y, et al. Red-cell-volume distribution curves in diagnosis of glomerular and non-glomerular haematuria. Lancet 1988; 1:908–911.
References
  1. Collar JE, Ladva S, Cairns TD, Cattell V. Red cell traverse through thin glomerular basement membranes. Kidney Int 2001; 59:2069–2072.
  2. Fogazzi GB, Ponticelli C, Ritz E. The Urinary Sediment: An Integrated View. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1999:30.
  3. Köhler H, Wandel E, Brunck B. Acanthocyturia—a characteristic marker for glomerular bleeding. Kidney Int 1991; 40:115–120.
  4. Fogazzi GB. The Urinary Sediment: An Integrated View. 3rd ed. France: Elsevier; 2010.
  5. Briner VA, Reinhart WH. In vitro production of ‘glomerular red cells’: role of pH and osmolality. Nephron 1990; 56:13–18.
  6. Schramek P, Moritsch A, Haschkowitz H, Binder BR, Maier M. In vitro generation of dysmorphic erythrocytes. Kidney Int 1989; 36:72–77.
  7. Pollock C, Liu PL, Györy AZ, et al. Dysmorphism of urinary red blood cells—value in diagnosis. Kidney Int 1989; 36:1045–1049.
  8. Shichiri M, Hosoda K, Nishio Y, et al. Red-cell-volume distribution curves in diagnosis of glomerular and non-glomerular haematuria. Lancet 1988; 1:908–911.
Issue
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine - 85(1)
Issue
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine - 85(1)
Page Number
12-13
Page Number
12-13
Publications
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
Publications
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
Topics
Nephrology
Immunology
Article Type
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Dysmorphic red blood cell formation
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Dysmorphic red blood cell formation
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hematuria, dysmorphic, red blood cells, RBCs, IgA nephropathy, Jose Lucas Daza, Marcelo De Rosa, Graciela De Rosa
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hematuria, dysmorphic, red blood cells, RBCs, IgA nephropathy, Jose Lucas Daza, Marcelo De Rosa, Graciela De Rosa
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