What are antischkow cells?

What are antischkow cells?

• A. Activated Macrophages Seen In Rheumatic Heart Disease
• B. Eosinophils In Parasitic Infection
• C. Lymphocytes In Viral Myocarditis
• D. Giant Cells In Granulomatous Disease

Answer: (A)

Antischkow cells are activated macrophages (histiocytes) seen in rheumatic heart disease. They are most often found within Aschoff bodies in the inflamed myocardium and have a distinctive nuclear appearance—a central, slender, wavy “caterpillar-like” chromatin pattern. This change reflects macrophage activation in the immune-driven process of rheumatic carditis following a streptococcal infection. The other choices point to different cells associated with other conditions—eosinophils in parasitic infections, lymphocytes in viral myocarditis, and giant cells in granulomatous disease—none of which are the antischkow (Anitschkow) cells.

Antischkow cells are activated macrophages (histiocytes) seen in rheumatic heart disease. They are most often found within Aschoff bodies in the inflamed myocardium and have a distinctive nuclear appearance—a central, slender, wavy “caterpillar-like” chromatin pattern. This change reflects macrophage activation in the immune-driven process of rheumatic carditis following a streptococcal infection. The other choices point to different cells associated with other conditions—eosinophils in parasitic infections, lymphocytes in viral myocarditis, and giant cells in granulomatous disease—none of which are the antischkow (Anitschkow) cells.