The Spleen is a ductless organ located in the upper
left quadrant of the abdomen just below diaphragm protected under the
lower left ribs. It filters the blood and maintains healthy red and
white blood cells and platelets.
Because this sensitive organ is normally tucked away underneath the
ribcage, it is protected from potential dangers that could cause it to
tear, which would lead to serious internal hemorrhaging (bleeding).
Normally, the spleen is a small organ about the size of a small fist or
orange. Splenomegaly describes the situation where the spleen enlarges
in size.
Hypersplenism is the name given to the condition where the spleen
becomes overactive and destroys more blood cells than it should.
Symptoms depend on which blood component is lacking. For example, if
red blood cells are deficient, anaemia will result (with symptoms
including fatigue and pallor). Most cases of hypersplenism are caused
by disorders somewhere else in the body, such as cirrhosis of the liver.
Cause-
An enlarged spleen can be caused by infections, cirrhosis and other
liver
diseases, blood diseases characterized by abnormal blood cells,
problems with
the lymph system, or other conditions.
Infections
o
Bacterial
infections
o
Cat
scratch disease
o
Infectious
mononucleosis (EBV or CMV)
o
Other
viral infections
o
Parasitic
infections
·
Diseases
involving the liver
o
Biliary
atresia
o
Cirrhosis
(alcoholic cirrhosis, portal vein obstruction,
portal hypertension)
o
Cystic
fibrosis
o
Sclerosing
cholangitis
·
Hemolytic
anemias
o
Hemoglobinopathies
o
Hemolytic
anemia due
to G6PD deficiency
o
Idiopathic
autoimmune
hemolytic anemia
o
Immune
hemolytic
anemia
o
Thalassemia
Cancer
§
Hodgkin's
disease
§
Leukemia
§
Lymphoma
Other
causes:-
§
Felty
syndrome
§
Sarcoidosis
§
Sickle
cell splenic
crisis
Symptoms-
An enlarged spleen often causes no symptoms. Some people, however, may
experience one or more of the following symptoms of enlarged spleen:
o
Pain in the left upper abdomen that may spread to the left shoulder
o
Feeling full without eating or after eating only a small amount - this can occur when an enlarged spleen presses on your stomach
o
Anemia
o
Fatigue
o
Frequent
infections
o
Easy
bleeding
o
Diaphragm
irritation may refer pain to the left shoulder
o
An
enlarged
spleen also can push toward the stomach and cause anorexia or a loss of
appetite and a sense of early fullness when eating.
Diagnosis-
1.Computed
blood cell count- looking for abnormal red blood
cells and white blood cells.
2.Peripheral
smear to assess at the types and shapes of
blood cells or a monospot, if the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis
is
being considered.
3.Radiological
findings- X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan and MRI
of abdomen to detect enlarged spleen.
Complication-
When
your spleen is enlarged, the possibility of rupture is
far greater. A ruptured spleen can cause life-threatening bleeding into
your
abdominal cavity.
Symptoms
of rupture of spleen-
o
Pain
on left
side of upper abdomen
o
Pain
radiating
to left shoulder
o
Pain
worsens
when you breath
o
Troubles
breathing
In
some cases, a spleen may have a
small tear resulting in a much slower loss of blood. However, this can
lead to
low blood pressure and an insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain
and heart,
which may become apparent through these symptoms:
o
Lightheadedness
o
Confusion
o
Blurred
vision
o
Fainting
Treatment-
Treatment
for an enlarged spleen is usually directed at the
underlying medical condition that resulted in the splenomegaly.
These
treatments are for the underlying disease and may
allow the spleen to reduce in size; however, in some cases, the spleen
will
remain enlarged.
On
occasion, the spleen may need to be removed surgically as
part of the disease treatment.
Role
of homoeopathy-
Homoeopathy
shows good results in treating spleenomegaly.
The medicine is selected on the basis of focusing on the whole organism
giving
importance to each and every alteration in the patient from healthy
state to
diseased state.
Please
E-mail dr_ramanand@rediffmail.com for any questions/treatment