Question

One consequence of autosplenectomy in sickle cell disease is the presence of Howell-Jolly bodies and target cells on a blood smear. What are Howell-Jolly bodies and target cells?

1) Abnormal red blood cells
2) Abnormal white blood cells
3) Abnormal platelets
4) Abnormal lymphocytes

Answer 1

Howell-Jolly bodies and target cells are abnormal red blood cells that can be seen in individuals with autosplenectomy due to sickle cell disease.

Step-by-step explanation:

Howell-Jolly bodies and target cells are both abnormal red blood cells that can be seen on a blood smear in individuals with autosplenectomy caused by sickle cell disease.

Howell-Jolly bodies are round, dark-staining structures that represent fragments of DNA within red blood cells. They are normally removed by the spleen, but in individuals with autosplenectomy, the spleen is absent or non-functional, leading to their presence in the blood smear.

Target cells, also known as codocytes, are red blood cells that have a central bullseye appearance due to abnormal hemoglobin distribution. They can be seen in various conditions, including sickle cell disease where the abnormal hemoglobin causes membrane changes.