Curriculum · Hematology
Hyposplenism and Howell-Jolly bodies
What it is
A Howell-Jolly body is a small nuclear remnant resembling a pyknotic nucleus, that is, nuclear DNA remnants left inside the red cell. It is a blood film finding, not a test in its own right.
Causes and risk
Howell-Jolly bodies are seen post-splenectomy and in hyposplenism, and sickle cell disease is the named cause of that hyposplenism. They are also seen in neonates and in megaloblastic anemia, and asplenia is listed with them as well.