Diseases of the Spleen

A human spleen is an organ in the abdomen and it is located under the ribs. The size of the spleen is as big as a human fist. The spleen is an important part of lymphatic system which fights of infections. It also keeps your stomach fluids in balance.

An important spleen function is that it plays an important part in regulating the amount of blood in your body and eliminates old and damaged cells.

Now, if the spleen gets damaged, the entire body can get affected in a negative way. One of the most common symptoms of spleen diseases is abdominal and back pain. As the spleen suffers, it stops regulating blood in the body causing the other body parts to die.

According to the latest medical reports there are various spleen conditions in humans which can cause permanent damage to the human body if not treated immediately. The spleen is an important body part which fights various infections and helps keep the body strong.

Splenic cancer or infarction is a dangerous spleen disease. According to the leading medical reports in the United States, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts mainly with the white blood cells which are an important part of the human immune system.

According to research, spleen may be affected by splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

There is a higher chance that in this spleen disorder, the spleen may be engorged with blood. A spleen rupture can be potentially life-threatening. The most popular reason of spleen rupture is trauma which is mostly because of accidents.

When a person suffers from a ruptured spleen, blood passes in the abdominal cavity and it causes pain. Patients suffering from splenic rupture are very vulnerable to anemia which can further result in various cardio vascular diseases and they may need blood transfusions.

The most recommended treatment was a surgical removal of the spleen, but it has also been found that the absence of spleen makes the body an easy target for various bacterial infections. To avoid all this, doctors try to save the spleen from more damage.

Gaucher's disease is a spleen related metabolic disorder. The main cause of Gaucher's disease is the accumulation of glucocerebroside, a fatty substance which starts accumulating in the spleen, liver, bone marrow, lungs and brain.

Doctors quote that there are three types of Gaucher's disease.

• Type 1 is the most common form of Gaucher's disease. In type 1 people suffer from an enlarged spleen and bruise easily. It also leads to more fatigue as a result of anemia and low number of blood platelets due to this condition.

• Enlarged spleen is also found in type 2. Although, the spleen takes at least 3 months to increase in size. Type 2 also damages the brain to a large extent.
• People with type 3 may also suffer from an enlarged spleen and liver, this may also affect the regular function of spleen and the individual may sometimes suffer from seizures.

It's a spleen problem which affects multiple organs of the human body. Sarcoidosis causes chunks of inflamed tissues which are known as granulomas to form in an organ and affect its functions.

It has been noted that sarcoidosis doesn't cause any symptoms for a long time but people suffering from it may suffer from total fatigue, pain or pressure in the upper part of the abdomen. Other symptoms may include high fever, weight loss, night sweats and a constant feeling of weakness.

Diseases of the spleen may have various causes. Sometimes it is inherited, otherwise it can result from another disease such as severe malaria, tuberculosis, a certain kind of blood disorder or rheumatoid arthritis.