Splenomegaly (Enlarged Spleen) - Treatments, Sign, and Symptoms
Definition of Spleen distention
Spleen (spleen) is an organ located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen just below the diaphragm and is protected under the ribs left bottom.
The spleen has several important functions that involve blood cells in the body.
1. He is to filter blood and remove red blood cells are old and damaged, bacteria and other particles as they pass through an intricate network of blood vessels in the spleen.
2. He produces lymphocytes, a type of white blood cells that produce antibodies and aid the immune system.
Filtering system is part of the red pulp and white pulp of the spleen while the cells containing the immune function.
Normally, the spleen is a small organ about the size of a small fist or orange. Splenomegaly describe situations in which the spleen enlarges in size. (+ Megaly = enlarged spleen)
What are the causes of Spleen distention
The spleen enlarges if he was asked to do excessive work in the filter or make blood cells, if there is abnormal blood flow to him, or if it was invaded by abnormal cells or deposits.
Red Blood Cells Abnormal: Because the spleen filter out abnormal blood cells and remove them from the circulatory system, diseases that result in abnormal red cells will cause enlarged spleen. Sickle cell disease (Sickle), thalassemia, and spherocytosis are examples of diseases that make up the cells that form unusual that can not easily maneuver through the blood vessels and small capillaries of the body. If they are not removed by the spleen, these abnormal cells can cause blood clots and reduce circulation. However, removing them causes the spleen to swell and enlarge.
Viral and Bacterial Infections: The spleen is involved in the manufacture of cells that fight infection and part of response it is enlarged. It is generally seen in viral infections such as infectious mononucleosis (caused by Epstein Barr virus), AIDS and hepatitis viruses. Examples of bacterial infections associated with splenomegaly includes tuberculosis, malaria, and anaplasmosis (formerly known as ehrlichiosis).
Splenic vein pressure / blockage: Blood enters the spleen through the splenic artery and left through the splenic vein. If the pressure within the veins is higher or if the splenic vein becomes blocked, blood can not leave the spleen and it may swell. Because blood flow relationships in the liver, cirrhosis and portal vein obstruction can cause complications with venous blood flow from the spleen. Congestive heart failure may lead to both liver and spleen to swell because of increased venous pressure.
Cancers: leukemia, lymphoma, leukemia and both non-Hodgkins and Hodgkins can cause enlarged spleen, such as the diversity of other tumors including melanoma, melanoma can.
Metabolic Diseases: Metabolic Diseases which enlarge the spleen, including Niemann-Pick disease, Gaucher disease and Hurler's syndrome.
The symptoms of an enlarged spleen
An enlarged spleen itself usually causes no symptoms, the symptoms of the underlying disease is often because the patient may seek treatment. This may include weakness and fatigue from anemia, easy bleeding from decreased platelets in the blood stream, or recurrent infections of white blood cells function poorly.
However, when the spleen enlarges, it can suppress the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the living-room chest and abdomen. Irritation of the diaphragm may refer to left shoulder pain. An enlarged spleen can also push forward the stomach and cause anorexia or loss of appetite and early satiety feeling when time to eat.
Because the spleen is enlarged to grow beyond the protection of the rib cage becomes more likely he is injured, thereby increasing the chance that the abdominal pain may occur.
Depending on the amount of damage to the spleen after injury, can occur with bleeding into the abdominal distension (bloating) associated, in the back and shoulder pain, and signs and symptoms of shock. These can include weakness, shortness of breath, and the skin cold, damp and sweaty.
When should I seek medical care for an enlarged spleen?
Most often, the diagnosis of an enlarged spleen was made by chance by a physician. There are usually no symptoms that would bring a patient seeking a doctor. However, symptoms that can not be explained as mentioned above should be investigated by a doctor.
Spleen Yang diagnose distention
Most often an enlarged spleen discovered incidentally on physical examination by a physician. The spleen is usually small enough to hide under the rib cage to the upper abdomen. The tip of the enlarged spleen may be felt in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen and when he continues to move toward edge enlarged right lower quadrant. In some people who are thin, the spleen may be felt in the abdomen but normal in size. An enlarged spleen measuring approximately 12 to 20 cm (4.5 to 8 inches) in any dimension while the spleen is larger than 20 cm (8 inches) are considered as severe enlargement.
If there is concern that the enlarged spleen, blood tests may be considered to assess the cause of enlargement. Common tests may include complete blood cell count (CBC) seeking virgin cells are abnormal red and white, peripheral smear to assess the types and forms of blood cells or monospot, if the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis is taken into consideration. Other tests that evaluate liver function and heart may be considered if clinically indicated.
Abdominal ultrasound, CT, or MRI of the abdomen may be used to evaluate the size of the spleen and to look for other abnormalities in the abdominal cavity that may be associated with splenomegaly.
Treatment For Spleen Yang distention
Treatment for an enlarged spleen is usually directed at the underlying medical conditions that result in splenomegaly. Depending on the underlying issues, treatments can occur with antibiotic, chemotherapy, or radiation. These treatments are for the underlying disease and may allow for reduced spleen size ; however, in some cases, will remain enlarged spleen.
Occasionally, the spleen may need to be surgically removed (splenectomy + = spleen ectomy = expenditure) as part of treatment disease. For example, the inherited spherocytosis, spleen expenditure happen prevent anemia when red blood cells are abnormally shaped continuously filtered out and removed from the bloodstream.
What are the complications of an enlarged spleen
When the spleen enlarges, it loses some of its patron from the bottom of the rib cage and become more susceptible to injury. The enlarged spleen is fragile and can be damaged by the blows that are relatively minor in the upper abdomen. He is a relatively solid organ and can crack causing life-threatening bleeding and potentially significant.
An enlarged spleen may also ensnare the number of blood cells in it that causes excessive:
* Anemia (number of red blood-cell count is reduced), which may lead to weakness, shortness of breath, and fatigue;
* Leukopenia (white blood cells is reduced), which may lead to an increased risk of infection; and
* Thrombocytopenia (reduced platelets), which may lead to infection or bleeding problems.
If the spleen is necessary to issue, there is an increased risk of infection, mainly caused by bacteria such as pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae), Hemophilus influenza, and meningococcus (Neisseria meningitides). It is important to consider the maintenance of immunization, current immunization (particularly pneumococcal vaccine, because about 50% to 90% of infections after splenectomy caused by encapsulated streptococci) against infkesi-infection in patients who had spleen removed.
Spleen prevent distention
Splenomegaly is a complication of underlying disease, and he himself can not be prevented. Ideally, early recognition of an enlarged spleen may help doctors come up to the early diagnosis of the cause and may prevent further enlargement of the spleen.
The prognosis (forecast) for Spleen Yang distention
Depending on the cause, the enlarged spleen may return to normal size and function if the underlying disease being treated and eliminated.
* Usually, in infectious mononucleosis, the spleen returned to normal when the infection improved.
* In some circumstances, removing the spleen is part of the treatment and can make the person more susceptible to an infection-infection.
* Many diseases result in an enlarged spleen as a permanent physical findings and may result in only a fair prognosis because that person might be in-creased spleen injuries, infections, and abnormal bleeding.
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