What do Heinz body RBC inclusions on lab analysis indicate?

Heinz bodies are RBC inclusions composed of denatured hemoglobin, and can be seen in G6PD deficiency and hemoglobinopathies (thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, sideroblastic anemia). Heinz bodies cause membrane damage and often lead to the production of Bite cells due to removal of damaged portions of the RBC membrane by macrophages, forming abnormally shaped RBCs with semicircular segments missing from the cell margin.

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This post was written by Omar Rifai