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Howell-Jolly bodies appear in peripheral blood smears in patients with absent or deficient spleen function. Moreover, Howell-Jolly bodies are pathognomonic for splenic dysfunction but can also be found in several conditions, including: Splenectomy. Sepsis. Severe hemolytic anemia. Megaloblastic anemia. Congenital disorders. Congenital asplenia.
Howell-Jolly bodies occur where there is no spleen or an non-functioning spleen, referred to as asplenia. They are usually one of these at most in a red cell, round, dark purple to red in color and often located peripherally on the red blood cell...
A peripheral blood smear with Howell-Jolly bodies. A. shows Howell-Jolly bodies. B. shows platelets on top of a red blood cell. Note the clear space surrounding the platelet. 50x oil immersion.
Howell–Jolly bodies: small, round inclusions seen in erythrocytes (peripheral blood – MGG stain) This DNA appears as a basophilic (purple) spot on the otherwise eosinophilic (pink) erythrocyte on a standard H&E stained blood smear.
Examination of the peripheral blood smear is an inexpensive but powerful diagnostic tool in both children and adults. In some ways, it is becoming a "lost art," but it often provides rapid, reliable access to information about a variety of hematologic disorders.
The peripheral blood smear is vital for evaluating functional asplenism, as various cells may help identify functional asplenism. Howell-Jolly bodies on a peripheral blood smear indicate abnormal spleen function. Howell-Jolly bodies are nuclear remnants of old red blood cells (RBCs) typically removed by the spleen (see Image.
Microscopic evaluation of the peripheral blood smear will demonstrate Howell-Jolly bodies. Howell-Jolly bodies can normally be present in the first few weeks of life. A liver-spleen scan with technetium-99m or abdominal ultrasound can confirm the absence of a spleen.