Howell–Jolly body
Howell-Jolly bodies are histopathological findings of basophilic nuclear remnants (clusters of DNA) in circulating erythrocytes. During maturation in the bone marrow erythrocytes normally expel their nuclei, but in some cases a small portion of DNA remains.
It is named for William Henry Howell and Justin Marie Jolly.[1][2][3]
Appearance
This DNA appears as a basophilic (purple) spot on the otherwise eosinophilic (pink) erythrocyte on a standard H and E stained blood smear. These inclusions are normally pitted out by the spleen during erythrocyte circulation, but will persist in individuals with functional hyposplenia or asplenia.
Causes
Common causes of asplenia are splenectomy due to trauma, and autosplenectomy caused by sickle cell anemia. 10% of patients with Coeliac disease present with splenic atrophy with subsequent Howell-Jolly bodies. Other causes are radiation therapy involving the spleen, such as that used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma. Howell-Jolly bodies are also seen in: severe hemolytic anemia, megaloblastic anemia, hereditary spherocytosis, and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
References
- ^ synd/1596 at Who Named It?
- ^ W. H. Howell. The life-history of the formed elements of the blood, especially the red blood corpuscles. Journal of Morphology, New York, 1890-91, 4: 57-116.
- ^ J. M. J. Jolly. Sur la formation des globules rouges des mammifères. Comptes rendus de la Société de Biologie, Paris, 1905, 58: 528-531.
External links
- Howell-Jolly bodies: Presented by the University of Virginia
- http://www.academic.marist.edu/~jzmz/topics/inclusions/inclusions18.html
- http://www.brown.edu/Courses/Digital_Path/systemic_path/heme/howelljolly.html
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