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 ]