Heinz bodies are removed from red blood cells through which process?

Heinz bodies are removed from red blood cells through which process?

• A. Pitting
• B. Phagocytosis
• C. Erythrolysis
• D. Reticuloendothelial filtration

Answer: (A)

Heinz bodies are removed by pitting in the spleen. These inclusions are denatured hemoglobin that form inside red blood cells in conditions like G6PD deficiency or after oxidative stress. Splenic macrophages selectively remove the inclusions from the cell membrane, leaving the red cell intact to re-enter circulation as a “pitted” RBC. This preserves the cell rather than destroying it, which would happen with full phagocytosis of the red cell or erythrolysis. The broader reticuloendothelial system is involved in filtering such components, but the specific process that handles Heinz bodies is pitting.

Heinz bodies are removed by pitting in the spleen. These inclusions are denatured hemoglobin that form inside red blood cells in conditions like G6PD deficiency or after oxidative stress. Splenic macrophages selectively remove the inclusions from the cell membrane, leaving the red cell intact to re-enter circulation as a “pitted” RBC. This preserves the cell rather than destroying it, which would happen with full phagocytosis of the red cell or erythrolysis. The broader reticuloendothelial system is involved in filtering such components, but the specific process that handles Heinz bodies is pitting.