Acanthocytosis Neurologic Disorder or Neuroacanthocytosis is a condition characterized by neurologic symptoms and Acanthocytosis. Acanthocytosis is a condition in which there are acanthocytes in the blood. Acanthocytes or spur cells are spiculated red blood cells with projections at surface of the cell.

 The cells are contracted, dense, and irregular. The appearance and morphology of the acanthocytes is more or less same the only thing which differs is the underlying disease which had lead to the Acanthocytosis. Red Blood Cells will convert in the acanthocytes if the lipid contents of the cellular matrix are altered or if the cellular membrane which encircles the cell loses its fluidity. Sometimes the term acanthocytes is also used for the structures which are found inside the hyphae of certain fungi. Neurologic symptoms consist of ataxia or movement disorders, cognition problems, personality disorders, axonal neuropathy and sometimes fits or seizures.

Signs and Symptoms

• Acanthocytosis
• Elevated serum creatine phosphokinase
• Elevated liver enzymes
• Rapid heart rate
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Palpable liver and spleen
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Muscle weakness
• Wasting of body muscles
• Impaired cognition
• Other psychiatric symptoms

Patients may have variable symptoms depending upon the nature of the underlying disease. The condition has no sexual predominance and it affects all races equally.

Causes

• Bassen Kornzweig disease or Abetalipoproteinemia
• Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia
• Huntington disease
• McLeod syndrome
• Other lipoprotein disorders
• Levine Critchley syndrome or chorea Acanthocytosis
• McLeod syndrome

Treatment of the condition will depend upon the underlying disease and the treatment of the underlying disease. Once the underlying condition is figured out and the treatment is started on the line of the illness than it is possible that the condition may revert back and Red Blood Cells may revert back to their normal shape and size.