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.[
citation needed]
In comparison with
Anitschkow cells their
cytoplasm is more
basophilic and can contain up to four
nuclei.
[1]
Aschoff believed that Aschoff giant cells were some type of
connective or
endothelial tissue.
[2] Today Aschoff cells are considered to be derived from cardiac myocytes rather than connective tissue cells.
[1]
Aschoff cells were named after the German physician and pathologist Ludwig Aschoff.[ citation needed]