Question:
Hypersegmented neutrophils are a feature of
Hypersegmented neutrophils are a feature of
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Think about which anaemia is caused by a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.
Updated On: Jul 16, 2026
- Aplastic anaemia
- Megaloblastic anaemia
- Iron deficiency anaemia
- Leukemia
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks which type of anaemia shows hypersegmented neutrophils on a peripheral blood smear, a classic morphological clue in haematology.
Step 2: Key Concept or Approach:
Hypersegmented neutrophils - neutrophils with six or more nuclear lobes, or an average lobe count above 3.5 - result from defective DNA synthesis that slows nuclear maturation relative to cytoplasmic maturation in the bone marrow. This defect is caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, the two causes of megaloblastic anaemia.
Step 3: Working Through the Options:
Aplastic anaemia shows pancytopenia with a hypocellular marrow but normal cell morphology, not hypersegmentation. Iron deficiency anaemia produces microcytic, hypochromic red cells with no change in neutrophil shape. Leukemia is marked by abnormal or immature white cell forms such as blasts, not specifically hypersegmented mature neutrophils. Megaloblastic anaemia is the one condition on this list that directly explains the finding.
Step 4: Conclusion:
The correct answer is megaloblastic anaemia, in which hypersegmented neutrophils and oval macrocytes on the smear point to B12 or folate deficiency.
The question asks which type of anaemia shows hypersegmented neutrophils on a peripheral blood smear, a classic morphological clue in haematology.
Step 2: Key Concept or Approach:
Hypersegmented neutrophils - neutrophils with six or more nuclear lobes, or an average lobe count above 3.5 - result from defective DNA synthesis that slows nuclear maturation relative to cytoplasmic maturation in the bone marrow. This defect is caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, the two causes of megaloblastic anaemia.
Step 3: Working Through the Options:
Aplastic anaemia shows pancytopenia with a hypocellular marrow but normal cell morphology, not hypersegmentation. Iron deficiency anaemia produces microcytic, hypochromic red cells with no change in neutrophil shape. Leukemia is marked by abnormal or immature white cell forms such as blasts, not specifically hypersegmented mature neutrophils. Megaloblastic anaemia is the one condition on this list that directly explains the finding.
Step 4: Conclusion:
The correct answer is megaloblastic anaemia, in which hypersegmented neutrophils and oval macrocytes on the smear point to B12 or folate deficiency.
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