Common Spleen Problems

The spleen plays a vital role in the immune system of the body. It is in the left upper abdomen, just underneath the rib cage. Absence of spleen in the body is not considered fatal but it makes humans more vulnerable to infections. This organ filters the blood, stores the blood cells, and destroys old blood cells.

The spleen is required to protect the body from infections caused by bacteria that are encapsulated; such as streptococcus pneumonia, haemophilus influenzae ,and meningococcus. A newborn baby acquires immunity against bacteria from the mother through the placenta.

Till the child develops his/her own defenses against infection (active immunity), the protection against bacteria depends upon the spleen cells. Immature red blood cells gain maturity during their travel through the spleen. Besides this, abnormal blood cells and old blood cells are also removed.

The white blood cells that are produced in the organ, are assigned the work of removing bacteria, dead tissue and foreign matter from the blood. There are many factors that could result in spleen problems. Some of the common ones have been listed ahead.

Enlargement of the spleen is the most common problem that interferes with normal spleen function. Clinically, it known as splenomegaly. The enlargement could be indicative of conditions such as mononucleosis, liver cirrhosis, lymphoma, leukemia, and polycythemia vera.

This may raise concerns, as the enlarged organ may cease to function properly, which in turn may increase the risk of injury. A disease known as sickle cell anemia, causes major damage to the spleen due to which the organ shrinks and becomes non-functional. This happens due to insufficient oxygenated blood reaching the organ.

The reason an enlarged spleen increases the risk of infection is, the organ tends to trap and store more red and white blood cells, than required. This results in a dearth in the availability of blood cells and platelets in the blood stream required to protect the body against any infection. This is known as hypersplenism.

This abnormal process creates turmoil in the working of the spleen - more like a cycle. The more the spleen traps the blood cells and platelets, the bigger it grows in size thus, trapping more and more number of cells as the process continues.

In a much severe case, the spleen can grow to such an extent that it may fall short of its own blood supply. When this occurs, part of the spleen may not get sufficient blood and may suffer damage or die (cease to function anymore).

Causes

• Infections (bacterial, viral or parasitic)
• Leukemia (cancer of the body's tissues responsible for forming blood)
• Lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system)
• Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Cancer that has metastasized from elsewhere in the body
• Liver cirrhosis
• Gaucher's disease
• Blood clot

Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of splenomegaly mimic those of other medical conditions and so it becomes difficult to diagnose the condition. When the spleen enlarges, it tends to exert some pressure against the stomach. So the affected person may feel full after having even a small snack or even without eating. 

The person may experience abdominal pain or backache in the area of the spleen. As mentioned earlier, when the spleen outgrows its blood supply, some parts of it may start to die. In this case, the pain may also radiate to the left shoulder.

Due to an enlarged spleen, a variety of medical disorders may occur in the body. A big spleen removes too many red and white blood cells causing anemia and leukopenia. And given a dearth in platelets, the person may develop a tendency to bleed easily.

Treatment Plan
In some cases, depending upon the underlying cause, antibiotics, chemotherapy, or radiation may help in the treatment. But in most cases, if the spleen does not reduce in size, then surgical removal of the organ (splenectomy) is what doctors opt for. 

The same approach is taken if the case becomes complicated or the underlying cause remains unidentified.

Another common problem that may arise with the spleen's function in the body is when the organ gets ruptured. As obvious it is from the name, this serious condition is usually a result of a trauma to where the organ is located. In some cases, a ruptured spleen may occur as a complication of splenomegaly.

Signs and Symptoms
Common signs that could be indicative of a spleen that has been ruptured include pain that would usually originate in the upper left area of the abdomen; that is where the organ is located. The pain could be accompanied or followed by confusion or lightheadedness. There could also be some kind of tenderness in the painful area.

Treatment Plan

A ruptured spleen has a high tendency to cause internal bleeding in the body, and this could threaten the life of the sufferer. So in most cases, it is necessary that the patient gets immediate medical attention. In certain cases, however, if the condition is minor, then it heals on its own with rest and medication.

Usually, surgery is required to prevent internal bleeding. And depending on the damage, the organ would either be repaired, or part of it would be removed. And some cases warrant a complete splenectomy.

This would be it for some common problems that are diagnosed when the spleen ceases to function normally.

To conclude, people who undergo splenectomy remain highly susceptible to contract infections, and so they are recommended by their surgeons to get vaccinated for protection against certain infections. They may also be advised to take penicillin or other antibiotics, and avoid making visits to places where malaria is prevalent.