Understanding Teardrop Cells in Blood Counts: Causes & Implications

Teardrop cells, also known as dacryocytes, are red blood cells that have a teardrop shape. They are a type of poikilocyte, which is an abnormally shaped red blood cell.

Teardrop cells are often associated with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a group of blood diseases that affect the bone marrow. In MDS, the bone marrow produces too few or too many immature blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Teardrop cells can also be seen in other conditions, such as:

* Iron deficiency anemia

* Vitamin B12 deficiency folate deficiency

* Liver disease

* Splenomegaly

* Sickle cell anemia

* Thalassemia

The presence of teardrop cells in a manual differential blood count can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. If you see teardrop cells on your blood count, it is important to talk to your doctor about the potential causes and treatment options.