Sunday, March 2, 2008

Hypersegmented Neutrophils

This is what hypersegmented neutrophils in the peripheral blood can mean:


· Hypersegmentation of granulocytes is present in the blood of patients with megaloblastic anemia. It may also be seen in chronic kidney and liver disease, myelofibrosis, and, rarely, in iron deficiency.
· There are a number of conditions in which hypersegmented neutrophils may be seen, such as megaloblastic anemias that include folic acid deficiency and pernicious anemia. Individuals who are receiving chemotherapy or have long-term chronic infections may also have hypersegmented neutrophils.
· The cells seen in these conditions would be classified as pathological since the body is responding abnormally as a result of either a deficiency of a component needed for DNA production or because of the toxic effect that chemotherapy drugs have on DNA.