Döhle

Döhle is a German surname that has also entered medical terminology through eponymous findings named after a German physician. The most well-known of these is the Döhle body, a cytoplasmic inclusion observed in neutrophils.

Döhle bodies were described by Karl Gottlob Döhle, a German pathologist, in the late 19th century. They appear on Wright-Giemsa stained blood smears as pale, basophilic, oval or round inclusions within the peripheral cytoplasm of neutrophils. Electronically they are now understood to be aggregates of rough endoplasmic reticulum with ribosomes, reflecting altered neutrophil maturation and cellular activity during stress or disease.

Clinically, Döhle bodies are not specific to a single condition but are associated with several states of increased neutrophil activation or immaturity. They can be seen in severe infections, systemic inflammation, burns, toxin exposure, and certain drug reactions. Their presence can indicate a response to acute illness or stress, but they are not diagnostic on their own. Döhle bodies may disappear as the patient improves or as neutrophils complete maturation.

The surname Döhle is of German origin and is found among scientists and clinicians who have contributed to medical knowledge. Beyond Döhle bodies, the name appears in historical medical literature related to pathology and hematology, reflecting the broader impact of individuals bearing the name in the field.