Polychromasia

POLYCHROMASIA, polychromatophilia, the appearance in peripheral blood of polychromatophils, erythrocytes that stain with azure-eosin or Giemsa stain a smoky, gray-violet color due to their ability to simultaneously take up both acidic and basic dyes. Ehrlich was the first to draw attention to the existence of such erythrocytes. In the bone marrow, polychromatophils are encountered very frequently, for which reason the appearance of polychromatophils in blood is regarded as a sign of the entry of very young erythrocytes into it in connection with their increased regeneration. In view of this, polychromatophilia acquires significance for judging blood formation, as well as in cases of occult bleeding. Due to the rarity of polychromatophils in peripheral blood, they are best detected in a thick smear (see). Schilling attaches great diagnostic importance to polychromatophilia and recommends the following designations: P+ . . . single polychromatophils in several fields of view P+ . . . 1-2 polychromatophils in each field of view P++ . . . 3-10 polychromatophils in each field of view P+++ . . . 10 and more polychromatophils in each field of view P++++ . . . very many polychromatophils in each field of view He also distinguishes ragged polychromatophilic networks (in a thick smear after elution of Hb) from fragmented networks associated with toxic influences. II. should not be regarded as a sign of violation of Hb properties—it is merely a result of disturbed tinctural relationships between normal oxyphilic Hb and basophilic stroma. Some authors consider polychromasia a degenerative symptom. They have also observed it in extravasates of blood. It is considered possible for the appearance of P. as a sign of aging of the erythrocyte, i.e., Alterspolychromasie.