Hemoglobin H disease

Peripheral blood smear from a patient with hemoglobin H disease and an intact spleen. The smear shows target cells (arrowheads), microcytic red cells (dashed arrow), and red cell fragments (arrows).

High-power view of a normal peripheral blood smear. Several platelets (arrowheads) and a normal lymphocyte (arrow) can also be seen. The red cells are of relatively uniform size and shape. The diameter of the normal red cell should approximate that of the nucleus of the small lymphocyte; central pallor (dashed arrow) should equal one-third of its diameter.