Anyone ever have unusual RBC morphology after being sick (had a cold, etc.)?

[cmc_ufl]

I was sick for 3 whole weeks with a cold of some sort (luckily not COVID). Runny nose, sore throat, etc.. Put off my routine CBC because of this. Had the CBC done 3 weeks after symptoms were gone, assuming the illness would be resolved by then.

Results showed WBCs high-normal (9.4K) and neutrophils slightly out-of-range (6.7K, upper limit reference range 6.4K), so some lingering infection could have still been present.

Interestingly, a peripheral smear showed RBC morphology with slight anisocytosis (differential sizes), slight poikilocytosis (differential shapes), slight hypochromasia (differential pigmentation).

Hematologist (MPN specialist) says the findings are not significant as my CBC indicated no anemia (normal RBC count, normal HCT, normal HB).

Has anyone else ever had unusual RBC morphology show up on a peripheral smear after being sick? This has never shown up on any of my past bloodwork.

[Hidden]

This might be informative: vin.com/apputil/content/def...

[cmc_ufl in reply to Hidden]

It looks like this is a veterinary paper speaking of blood changes in animals. Although I'm sure most of the same principles apply, a reference focusing on humans would be helpful.

[Hidden in reply to cmc_ufl]

Courtesy of Mr Google: askhematologist.com/blood-m.... There are many other articles that you will find on a search.

While I have not had a problem with the RBC’s, I have morphological changes in my lymphocytes and am awaiting a definitive diagnosis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia

[CalL1981]

I had a cold this year and and my bloods around a month later showed WCC above normal. Neutrophils were well above normal. Smear was also abnormal. Follow up 6 weeks later this had all returned to normal.

[cmc_ufl in reply to CalL1981]

Thanks for responding. On the smear, were there abnormalities with your RBCs (such as anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, hypochromasia, etc.), or just with the WBC?

[CalL1981]

There were some red cell abnormalities noted but not specially what you’ve mentioned

[Snook37]

I have had very strange morphological findings since I began initial phlebotomies almost a year ago. Much of the findings are related to iron deficiency.