Aschoff bodies
Aschoff bodies are nodules found in the hearts of individuals with rheumatic fever.
Characteristic of rheumatic heart disease
Also called Aschoff-Geipel bodies
Aschoff bodies are areas of inflammation of the connective tissue of the heart.
Aschoff bodies are granulomatous structures.
Types of Cells –
- Multinucleated giant cells [Macrophages may fuse to form]
- Anitschkow cells
- “caterpillar cells,”
Aschoff bodies are found in all the three layers of the heart –
Least common – pericardium
Most common – myocardium
![Rheumatic heart disease - 3b - very high mag](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Rheumatic_heart_disease_-_3b_-_very_high_mag.jpg/512px-Rheumatic_heart_disease_-_3b_-_very_high_mag.jpg)
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