Acanthocytes can be caused by (1) altered distribution or proportions of membrane lipids or by (2) membrane protein or membrane skeleton abnormalities. In membrane lipid abnormalities, previously normal red cell precursors often acquire the acanthocytic morphology from the plasma.

What causes Poikilocytosis?

Poikilocytosis is caused by another medical condition like anemia, red blood cell membrane defects like hereditary spherocytosis, many genetic causes like sickle cell disease, thalassemia, nutritional disorders like iron deficiency anemia, megaloblastic anemia, and other causes like renal and liver disease.

How do spur cells arise?

[2] When remodeled by the spleen in liver disease patients, acanthocytes develop more blunt spicules and become relatively more spherocytic; these are known as spheroacanthocytes or ‘spur cells.