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Nature of Heinz Bodies

Nature volume 171, pages 84–85 (1953)Cite this article

Abstract

A GREAT number of hæmolytic agents have been found to produce, besides methæmoglobinæmia, certain highly refractive inclusion bodies, the so-called ‘Heinz bodies’, in the erythrocytes1. The connexion between methæmoglobin and Heinz bodies, however, is not clear. Most agents producing Heinz bodies belong to the group of aromatic amines and include such important drugs as sulphonamides and thiosemicarbazones2,3. The reports on the formation and chemical nature of Heinz bodies are contradictory4. There are reports indicating that these bodies consist of iron-containing compounds5–7. Recently it has been stated that8 Heinz bodies are identical with denatured globin, isolated by Warburg et al.9 from blood in phenylhydrazine poisoning. This conclusion has since been attributed erroneously4 to Warburg et al.

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Author notes

  1. G. ROZSA

    Present address: Department of Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, Federal Security Agency, Bethesda, Maryland

    G. ROZSA & S. S. SPICER

  2. Visiting Scientist of the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases,

    G. ROZSA

Authors
  1. G. ROZSA
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  2. S. S. SPICER
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ROZSA, G., SPICER, S. Nature of Heinz Bodies. Nature 171, 84–85 (1953). https://doi.org/10.1038/171084a0

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