Antischkow Cells Are Associated With Which Condition?

Antischkow Cells Are Associated With Which Condition?

• A. Myocardial Infarction
• B. Rheumatic Heart Disease
• C. Pericarditis
• D. Aortic Valve Stenosis

Answer: (B)

Anitschkow (caterpillar) cells are specialized macrophages found in Aschoff bodies of the inflamed myocardium in rheumatic fever. Their distinctive elongated, dense chromatin gives a caterpillar-like appearance, and they reflect the granulomatous, immune-mediated myocarditis that underlies rheumatic heart disease after a group A Streptococcus infection. This histologic finding is a hallmark of rheumatic involvement, helping distinguish it from myocardial infarction (which shows coagulative necrosis and neutrophilic infiltration), pericarditis (which features fibrinous exudate rather than these macrophages), or aortic valve stenosis (usually due to calcific degeneration rather than inflammatory cell changes).

Anitschkow (caterpillar) cells are specialized macrophages found in Aschoff bodies of the inflamed myocardium in rheumatic fever. Their distinctive elongated, dense chromatin gives a caterpillar-like appearance, and they reflect the granulomatous, immune-mediated myocarditis that underlies rheumatic heart disease after a group A Streptococcus infection. This histologic finding is a hallmark of rheumatic involvement, helping distinguish it from myocardial infarction (which shows coagulative necrosis and neutrophilic infiltration), pericarditis (which features fibrinous exudate rather than these macrophages), or aortic valve stenosis (usually due to calcific degeneration rather than inflammatory cell changes).