Estimating the risk for sepsis after splenectomy in hereditary spherocytosis
Article Abstract:
Persons with hereditary spherocytosis who have had a splenectomy may be at greater risk of dying from sepsis than the general population. Hereditary spherocytosis is a form of anemia that is often controlled by splenectomy, or surgical removal of the spleen. Sepsis is a widespread inflammatory response to infection that can lead to organ dysfunction and death. Long-term studies of 29 families affected by hereditary spherocytosis revealed four episodes of fatal sepsis among 226 persons who had had splenectomy. This equates to a mortality rate of 0.73 per 1000 years among hereditary spherocytosis patients without spleens. Three of the four episodes of fatal sepsis occurred many years after splenectomy, and all four occurred before the introduction of a vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Also, none of the patients who died was taking penicillin to prevent infection.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1995
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Anemia of chronic disease: a misnomer
Article Abstract:
Many disease processes that include an inflammatory component can produce anemia, or a low red blood cell count. This is often called the anemia of chronic disease, but this is inaccurate because many chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, do not result in anemia. Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and chronic infections do produce anemia, and this seems to result from the inflammatory effects of the disease. The precise mechanism by which inflammation causes anemia is unknown. Drugs that suppress inflammation often raise the red blood cell count. The problem seems to occur in the bone marrow, and consists of an ineffective production of new red blood cells. Replacing the term anemia of chronic disease with the term anemia of chronic inflammation would be a more accurate expression of the process. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1991
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Pulmonary Hypertension after Splenectomy?
Article Abstract:
Surgical removal of the spleen may increase the risk of developing pulmonary hypertension. Researchers compared 61 patients with high blood pressure in the lungs and 151 patients who had undergone lung transplantation. Twelve percent of patients who had pulmonary hypertension had undergone splenectomy, while all of the transplant patients still had spleens.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1999
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