Heinz Bodies
Other Known Aliases – Heinz-Ehrlich Bodies, Ehrlich Inner Body
Definition – Deep purple small irregular bodies in red cells stained with crystal violet which represents denatured hemoglobin due to oxidative damage.
Clinical Significance – Seen in conditions in with high oxidative stress such as:
- Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
- Alpha thalassemia
- NADPH deficiency
- Chronic liver disease
- Asplenia
History – Given to Dr. Robert Heinz (1865-1924), who was a German physician and pharmacologist who first reported these findings 1890 in the blood of guinea pigs that had treated with acetylphenylhydrazine. Dr. Paul Ehrlich (1854-1915), was a German bacteriologist and immunologist, is also credited with this, but did not publish it formally (as best I can tell)
References
- Firkin BG and Whitwirth JA. Dictionary of Medical Eponyms. 2nd ed. New York, NY; Parthenon Publishing Group. 1996.
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Yee AJ, Pfiffner P. (2012). Medical Eponyms (Version 1.4.2) [Mobile Application Software]. Retrieved http://itunes.apple.com
- R. Heinz. Morphologische Veränderungen des roten Blutkörperchens durch Gifte. [Virchows] Archiv für pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für klinische Medizin, Berlin, 1890, 122: 112-116
