An enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) can have various causes and is usually accompanied by severe pain in the upper abdomen. Find out about the health consequences of a pathologically enlarged spleen.
This little-known organ is about the size of a fist and is located in the left upper abdomen behind the stomach. Severe pain in this region that does not go away on its own after 48 hours could indicate a problem with the spleen. Sweating and a feeling of fullness or pressure in the left upper abdomen and back can also occur. In some cases, the swollen organ can even be felt under the patient’s left costal arch. An enlarged spleen is often caused by diseases such as leukemia that affect the blood or lymphatic system. Cirrhosis of the liver can also cause blood to back up, causing the spleen to swell.
Table of Contents
Enlarged spleen: These are the consequences of splenomegaly
When the spleen enlarges, its function tends to increase as a result, which is not a good thing. Because the spleen is responsible for breaking down old, red blood cells, splenomegaly can cause the organ to break down too many erythrocytes. The result is anemia , also known as anemia . The spleen also stores blood platelets (thrombocytes), which is why a so-called thrombocyte deficiency can occur as a result of an enlarged spleen. This disrupts blood clotting and increases the tendency to bleed . Finally, the spleen forms white blood cells, which are essential for the immune response. Since the enlarged organ stores these leukocytes more, the immune systemaffected and those affected become more susceptible to infections.
Can you live without a spleen?
If there is an underlying disease that causes the spleen to enlarge, successful treatment of that disease usually causes the spleen to regress as well. However, if the organ tears as a result of the enlargement or if the spleen is permanently overactive, it may have to be surgically removed . Since the spleen is not essential for survival, people can continue to live without a spleen with certain restrictions. After the so-called splenectomy, patients are usually more susceptible to infections and blood poisoning, since the immune system and the breakdown of old blood cells are impaired. Due to this increased susceptibility to infection, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recommends that people without a spleen protect themselves against pneumococci andget meningococcal vaccine. It also advises annual flu vaccinations in the fall.
