Hematopathology

The blood film may show contracted and fragmented cells, 'bite' cells and 'blister‘ cells which have had Heinz bodies removed by the spleen. GIucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency


Heinz bodies: Supravital stain. These bodies are particles of denatured hemoglobin, usually attached to the inner face of the red cell membrane.
Heinz bodies: G6PD deficiency

GIucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) functions to reduce nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) while oxidizing glucose-6-phosphate. It is the only source of NADP in red cells. As NADP is needed for the production of reduced glutathione a deficiency renders the red cell susceptible to oxidant stress.