Aschoff cell

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]

H&E stain with visible Aschoff cells in rheumatic heart disease.

Aschoff cells were named after the German physician and pathologist Ludwig Aschoff.^{[citation needed]}