In
pathology, Aschoff cells (or Aschoff giant cells) are
cells associated with
rheumatic heart disease. They are found in
Aschoff bodies surrounding centres of
fibrinoid necrosis.
In comparison with
Anitschkow cells their
cytoplasm is more
basophilic and can contain up to four
nuclei.
[Aschoff Body. nline it. 2014-02-25 Retrieved from http://www.histopathology-india.net/Asch.htm
]
Aschoff believed that Aschoff giant cells were some type of
connective or
endothelial tissue.
Today Aschoff cells are considered to be derived from cardiac myocytes rather than connective tissue cells.
Aschoff cells were named after the
German physician and pathologist
Ludwig Aschoff.
References
{{Cardiovascular system symptoms and signs
Chronic rheumatic heart diseases