Polychromasia

POLYCHROMASIA, polychromatophilia, the appearance in peripheral blood of polychromatophils, erythrocytes that stain a smoky, gray-violet color with azure-eosin or Giemsa stain due to their ability to simultaneously absorb both acidic and basic dyes. Ehrlich was the first to draw attention to the existence of such erythrocytes. Polychromatophils are found very frequently in the bone marrow, which is why the appearance of polychromatophils in the 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 assessing hematopoiesis, as well as in cases of occult bleeding. Due to the rarity of polychromatophils in peripheral blood, they are best detected in a thick drop (see). Schilling attaches great diagnostic significance to polychromatophilia and recommends the following designations: P+ . . . isolated polychromatophils in several fields of view; P+ . . . 1-2 polychromatophils in each field of view; P++ . . . 3-10

P+++ . . . 10 or more polychromatophils in each field of view; P++++ . . . very many polychromatophils in each field of view. He also distinguishes torn polychromatophilic reticula (in a thick drop after leaching of hemoglobin) from torn reticula associated with toxic influences.

Polychromasia should not be considered a sign of impaired hemoglobin properties—it is merely the result of disturbed tinctorial relationships between normal oxyphilic hemoglobin and the basophilic stroma.

Some authors consider polychromasia a degenerative symptom. They have also observed it in blood extravasates.

It is considered possible that the appearance of polychromasia is a sign of erythrocyte aging, i.e., Alterspolychromasie.