Causes and hazards of slightly enlarged spleen

In our digestive system, the spleen is a relatively important organ. When the spleen is diseased, it will cause certain harm to the health of the body. Splenomegaly is a common disease of the spleen. When the spleen becomes enlarged, the digestive system will also be damaged to some extent. If the spleen is diseased, you should first change your eating habits and lifestyle, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and protect your stomach, which will be of great help in relieving the symptoms of the spleen.

Causes of slightly enlarged spleen

Infectious

(1) Acute infection

Seen in viral infections, rickettsial infections, bacterial infections, spirochetal infections, and parasitic infections.

(2) Chronic infection

It is seen in chronic viral hepatitis, chronic schistosomiasis, chronic malaria, kala-azar, etc.

Non-infectious

(1) Blood stasis

It is seen in cirrhosis, chronic congestive right heart failure, chronic constrictive pericarditis or large pericardial effusion, idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, etc.

(2) Blood diseases

It is seen in various types of acute and chronic leukemia, erythroleukemia, erythremia, malignant lymphoma, malignant histiocytosis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, hemolytic anemia, polycythemia vera, multiple myeloma, hypersplenism, etc.

(3) Connective tissue diseases

Such as systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, etc.

(4) Histiocytosis

Such as Le-Scherger disease, xantholipomatosis syndrome, and eosinophilic granuloma.

(5) Lipidosis

Such as Gaucher disease and Niemann-Pick disease.

(6) Splenic tumors and splenic cysts

Primary malignant tumors of the spleen are rare, with splenic lymphoma being the most common. Primary cancer lesions are mostly located in the digestive tract, most commonly in the stomach and colorectum.

Dangers of Splenomegaly

1. Because the causes of an enlarged spleen are complicated, except for a few physiological reasons, the cause should be found under the guidance of a doctor and regular check-ups should be conducted.

2. Because an enlarged spleen can have adverse effects on the human body, in the past the main treatment method was surgery to remove the spleen. Splenectomy has its benefits as it can correct the harm that splenomegaly can cause to the human body, but this method also has its shortcomings.

3. Total splenectomy will change the patient's immune function, resulting in disappearance of spleen filtering function, reduction of IgM, decrease of regulatory factor and opsonin levels, disorder of T lymphocyte system, significant decrease of peripheral blood lymphocyte number and lymphocyte conversion rate, which will significantly increase the chance of outbreak of infection, cause large surgical trauma and high cost.

4. Some patients with poor liver function, ascites, low protein, hematemesis and other conditions are not suitable for surgery.

5. People may be more familiar with the heart and liver, but may be less familiar with the spleen. The spleen is also an important organ in the human body. It is an important blood storage organ and an important immune organ. The spleen plays a very important role in the body's defense system.

6. Diseases of the spleen itself are less common, such as spleen tumors, but diseases of other systems in the human body can cause secondary changes in the spleen and result in splenomegaly.

7. For example, people with common liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and idiopathic portal hypertension will have splenomegaly. Some blood diseases such as thrombocytopenic purpura, Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, etc. can also cause splenomegaly.