Spherocytosis as a manifestation of postabortal Clostridium welchii infections.

Abstract Two cases of postabortal Clostridium welchii infection are presented, both of which showed spherocytosis as an outstanding finding. In the patient who recovered, differential smears before and after illness showed normal morphology of the red cells in contrast to marked spherocytosis during the illness. The toxins produced by the organism were apparently not severe enough to cause hemolysis as was true in the fatal case. Evidence presented by the case with recovery seems to indicate that careful observation of the differential smears might well be the first finding of postabortal and other Clostridium welchii infections.