There are several reasons why a spleen may need to become removed, and the following list, though not all inclusive, includes the most common reasons. The most common reason is really a condition called idiopathic (unknown cause) thrombocytopenia (low platelets) purpura (ITP).
Platelets are blood cells which aid is blood clotting. Hemolytic anemia (a condition that breaks down red blood cells) takes a spleen removal to prevent or decrease the need for transfusion. Also, hereditary (genetic) conditions that affect the shape of red blood cells, conditions known as spherocystosis, sickle cell disease or thalassemia, may need splenectomy. Often patients with cancers from the cells which fight infection, known as lymphoma or certain kinds of leukemia, require spleen removal.
Once the spleen gets enlarged, it sometimes removes a lot of platelets out of your blood and it has to become removed. Sometimes the spleen is taken away to identify or treat a tumor. Sometimes the blood supply towards the spleen becomes blocked (infarct) or the artery abnormally expands (aneurysm) and also the spleen must be removed. The spleen is really a blood filled organ located in the upper left abdominal cavity.
It's a storage organ for red blood cells and possesses many specialized white blood cells called “macrophages” (disease fighting cells) which act to filter blood. The spleen is a component of the defense mechanisms and also removes old and damaged blood particles from your system. The spleen helps the body identify and kill bacteria. The spleen can affect the platelet count, the red blood cell count and even the white blood count.
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