ASCP Specialist in Hematology (SH) Practice Exam 2026 - Free Hematology Specialist Practice Questions and Study Guide

Döhle bodies are cytoplasmic inclusions found in neutrophils and are primarily associated with acute inflammatory responses, including severe infections and certain types of cancer. Their presence indicates the activation of bone marrow due to an overall stress response in the body, often linked to the release of granulocyte precursors into the bloodstream during significant pathological states.

In severe infections specifically, the immune system is stimulated, leading to an increased production of neutrophils, some of which may contain these inclusions. This phenomenon is a hallmark of an acute phase reaction, which is the body's immediate response to tissue injury and infection. Additionally, Döhle bodies can be observed in patients with some malignancies, especially those affecting the bone marrow or leading to a leukemoid reaction, thereby affirming the relationship with severe infections and cancer.

The other options, while related to various hematological conditions, do not characteristically present with Döhle bodies. Chronic liver diseases are associated with different cellular changes and inclusions. Iron deficiency anemia does not typically exhibit this phenomenon; instead, it is characterized by microcytic hypochromic red blood cells. Hemolytic anemia also has its own set of distinctive laboratory findings and does not usually feature Döhle bodies. Thus, the