Dacryocytes: what they are and main causes

Dacryocytes correspond to a change in the shape of red blood cells, in which these cells acquire a shape similar to a drop or tear, which is why it is also known as a red blood cell. This change in red blood cells is a consequence of diseases that mainly affect the bone marrow, as in the case of myelofibrosis, but can also be due to genetic or spleen-related changes.

The presence of circulating dacryocytes is called dacryocytosis and does not cause symptoms and has no specific treatment, being only identified during the blood count. The symptoms that the person may have are related to the disease that he / she has and that leads to the structural alteration of the red blood cell, being important to be evaluated by the general practitioner or hematologist.

Main causes of dacryocytes

The appearance of dacryocytes does not cause any sign or symptom, being verified only during the blood count at the moment when the slide is read, showing that the red blood cell has a different shape than normal, which is indicated in the report.

The appearance of dacryocytes is most often related to changes in the bone marrow, which is responsible for the production of cells in the blood. Thus, the main causes of dacryocytosis are:

1. Myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis is a disease characterized by neoplastic changes in the bone marrow, which cause stem cells to stimulate the production of excess collagen, resulting in the formation of fibrosis in the bone marrow, which interferes with the production of blood cells. Thus, due to changes in the bone marrow, circulating dacryocytes can be seen, in addition to there may also be an enlarged spleen and signs and symptoms of anemia.

The initial diagnosis of myelofibrosis is made by means of a complete blood count and, based on the identification of changes, molecular testing may be requested to identify the JAK 2 V617F mutation, bone marrow biopsy and myelogram to verify how the production of blood cells. Understand how the myelogram is made.

What to do: Treatment for myelofibrosis should be recommended by the doctor according to the signs and symptoms presented by the person and bone marrow status. Most of the time, the doctor can recommend the use of JAK 2 inhibitor drugs, preventing the progression of the disease and relieving the symptoms, however in other cases, stem cell transplantation may be recommended.

2. Talassemias

Thalassemia is a hematological disease that is characterized by genetic changes that lead to defects in the hemoglobin synthesis process, which can interfere with the shape of the red blood cell, since hemoglobin makes up this cell, and the presence of dacryocytes can be observed.

In addition, as a consequence of changes in the formation of hemoglobin, the transport of oxygen to the organs and tissues of the body is impaired, leading to the appearance of signs and symptoms such as excessive tiredness, irritability, decreased immune system and poor appetite, for example..

What to do: It is important for the doctor to identify the type of thalassemia that the person has to indicate the most appropriate treatment, usually using iron supplements and performing blood transfusions. Understand how thalassemia treatment is done.

3. Hemolytic anemia

In hemolytic anemia, red blood cells are destroyed by the immune system itself, which causes the bone marrow to produce more blood cells and release them into the circulation. Red blood cells with structural changes, including dacryocytes, and immature red blood cells, which are known as reticulocytes.

What to do: Hemolytic anemia is not always curable, however it can be controlled with the use of drugs that should be recommended by the doctor, such as corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, for example, to regulate the immune system. In more severe cases, the removal of the spleen may be indicated, because the spleen is the organ in which the destruction of red blood cells occurs. Thus, with the removal of this organ, it is possible to decrease the rate of destruction of red blood cells and favor their permanence in the bloodstream.

Learn more about hemolytic anemia.

4. Splenectomized people

Splenectomized people are those who had to undergo surgery to remove the spleen and, thus, in addition to not destroying the older red blood cells, there is also no production of new red blood cells, as this is also one of their functions. This could cause a certain "overload" in the bone marrow so that the amount of red blood cells produced would be sufficient for the proper functioning of the organism, which can end up resulting in the appearance of dacryocytes.

What to do: In these cases it is important that medical monitoring is carried out in order to check how the organism's response is in the absence of this organ.

See when the removal of the spleen is indicated.