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Increased polychromasia, schistocytes, and spherocytes in a peripheral blood smear are characteristic findings indicative of hemolytic anemia.

Polychromasia reflects the presence of increased numbers of reticulocytes, which are immature red blood cells released from the bone marrow in response to anemia. In hemolytic anemia, the destruction of red blood cells prompts the bone marrow to produce more reticulocytes to compensate for the loss.

Schistocytes, which are fragmented red blood cells, arise due to mechanical damage to red blood cells, often seen in conditions such as microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Their presence suggests that red blood cells are being destroyed prematurely in the circulation.

Spherocytes are atypically shaped red blood cells that appear spherical rather than their normal biconcave shape. The presence of spherocytes is classically associated with conditions where there is an increase in the destruction and removal of red blood cells from circulation, such as hereditary spherocytosis or autoimmune hemolytic anemia, both of which fall under the broader category of hemolytic anemia.

In contrast, the other options do not typically present with this combination of findings. Aplastic anemia features a decreased production of all blood cells due to