01/09/2022
What are Heinz bodies?
About hemoglobin
All red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, contain a protein called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is responsible for carrying oxygen inside of red blood cells around the body.
When hemoglobin is exposed to toxic elements, it can become “denatured,” or damaged. Denatured proteins whose structure has been damaged can’t function like regular proteins and may play a role in the development of certain diseases.
About Heinz bodies
Denatured hemoglobin inside of red blood cells are called Heinz bodies. When viewed under a microscope during blood testing, they’re visible as abnormal clumps that extend from the red blood cells.
Associated blood disorders
While Heinz bodies have been studied in both humans and animals, in humans they’re associated with a handful of red blood cell disorders, including:
thalassemia
hemolytic anemia
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
Hemolytic anemia is the most common condition caused by Heinz bodies, but not everyone who has Heinz bodies will develop it. Other conditions mentioned above can cause Heinz bodies to show up on lab test results, even without hemolytic anemia.
What causes Heinz bodies?
Heinz bodies are associated with genetic and environmental factors. For example, Heinz bodies in infants can signal congenital red blood cell disorders. Heinz bodies can also be caused by exposure to certain toxic elements.
In an early case studyTrusted Source from 1984, a patient experienced Heinz-body hemolytic anemia after ingesting a petroleum-based oil containing cresol.
Other potential toxic elements that can cause Heinz body formation after exposure or ingestion include:
maple leaves (primarily in animals)
wild onions (primarily in animals)
certain drugs, including synthetic vitamin K, phenothiazines, methylene blue, and more
certain dyes used for diapers
chemicals used for making mothballs
Are there symptoms associated with Heinz bodies?
While there are no specific symptoms for Heinz bodies, there are symptoms associated with the underlying causes and in some cases, the underlying exposure.
Thalassemia
Symptoms of thalassemia may include:
delayed growth
developmental issues
bone deformities
fatigue
jaundice
dark urine
Hemolytic anemia
Symptoms of hemolytic anemia may include:
skin that’s paler than usual
weakness
lightheadedness
heart palpitations
enlarged spleen or liver
G6PD deficiency
Symptoms of G6PD deficiency may include:
skin that’s paler than usual
dizziness
fatigue
trouble breathing
increased heart rate
jaundice
Although exposure to toxic wild plants is a cause of Heinz bodies primarily in animals, certain medications can also cause the production of Heinz bodies in humans.
Medications that may cause Heinz bodies are used to treat a variety of conditions, such as psychosis and methemoglobinemia. There may be no outwards signs of the presence of Heinz bodies in these conditions. Instead, it’s more likely they’d be found during routine blood testing.
