Elliptocytes, also known as ovalocytes, comprise less than 1% of RBCs in a normal blood smear. Their numbers can increase to about 10% with thalassemia or deficiency of iron or folate, with much higher proportions seen with dyserythropoiesis (i.e. MDSs). With hereditary elliptocytosis, as seen here, nearly all the RBCs may be ovoid, and in this instance the morphology results from abnormalities of cytoskeleton proteins.
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