Enlargement of the spleen, or splenomegaly, is not a separate disease, but one of the symptoms of the disease, and therefore its causes vary. The enlargement of the spleen occurs e.g. in the course of infectious, metabolic, storage and cancer diseases, Check which diseases cause the enlargement of the spleen.

Spleen enlargement ( splenomegaly )is a condition in which the spleen weighs more than in a he althy person, i.e. more than approx. 200 g (the exact weight depends on the amount of blood filling it). Then it is felt during the pressure of the left hypochondrium. Usually this means that it is already magnified more than 1.5 times. Then alsosymptoms of spleen enlargementappear, such as:

  • feeling of fullness in the abdomen
  • nausea
  • stomach ache
  • back pain radiating from the left upper abdomen.

Fortunately, an enlarged spleen can return to its normal size if properly treated.

Enlargement of the spleen is often accompanied by an enlarged liver (hepatomegaly). In this case, we are talking about hepatosplenomegaly.

Spleen enlargement - causes. Nowotwory

Splenomegaly may occur in the course of blood / bone marrow cancers, incl. chronic myeloid leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia or acute leukemia. Also, myelofibrosis, Hodgkin's disease (cancer of the lymphatic system), lymphomas (cancers of the lymph nodes), and spleen cancer (it can be either a primary cancer of the spleen or a metastasis to this organ) can lead to the enlargement of this organ.

Spleen enlargement - causes. Infectious diseases

  • viral, e.g. cytomegaly, viral hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, rubella;
  • bacterial, e.g. tuberculosis, typhoid fever, Lyme disease, syphilis;
  • fungal, e.g. candidiasis;
  • protozoa, e.g. malaria, toxoplasmosis;
  • parasitic, e.g. echinococcosis;

Due to the fact that the spleen, incl. filters the blood - it retains foreign particles, e.g. bacteria and viruses (to destroy them later), the cause of its enlargement may be any pathogen.

Worth knowing

Enlarged spleen - what to do?Treatment of an enlarged spleen

Treatment of an enlarged spleen depends on the disease that caused it. For example, in the case of myelofibrosis, the spleen can be reduced by using special drugs called JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitors. If the spleen grows larger during a cold, simply wait for the body to deal with the infection. You can help him in this by leading a sparing lifestyle - lie in bed and rest, or take medications with paracetamol or ibuprofen. After the underlying disease is cured, spleen size should return to normal. It should be emphasized that patients with a significantly enlarged spleen (e.g. patients with myelofibrosis) are particularly prone to its ruptures and must avoid any activity that may expose them to abdominal trauma.

Spleen enlargement - causes. Autoimmune diseases

Spleen enlargement can also occur in the course of autoimmune and systemic diseases, where the immune system attacks and destroys the body's own cells. This group of diseases includes: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis.

Spleen enlargement - causes. Cirrhosis of the liver

Cirrhosis of the liver may be one of the causes of spleen enlargement. In the course of this disease, blood pressure may rise inside the capillaries of the spleen, which causes its enlargement.

Spleen enlargement - causes. Storage diseases

Another cause of splenomegaly are storage diseases, in the course of which there is a deposition of various substances in organs, including the spleen, which causes its enlargement. These include Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick disease, mucopolysaccharidosis, and primary and secondary amyloidosis.

Spleen enlargement - causes. Cysts

A spleen cyst is a pathological growth within this organ. It can be congenital or arise after injuries (post-traumatic), as well as after spleen infarction (post-infarction spleen cyst), i.e. after part of the spleen dies due to clogging of the artery supplying it with blood.

Spleen enlargement - causes. Abscess

Spleen abscess is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition. Symptoms of a spleen abscess include abdominal pain, fever, peritonitis symptoms, and pleurisy-related chest pain.

Important

Spleen enlargement - serious complications

Splenomegaly can lead tohypersplenism , orlarge spleen syndrome . It is manifested by enlargement of the spleen,anemia, leukopenia (reduction in the number of white blood cells) and thrombocytopenia (reduction in the number of platelets in the blood). This condition is a result of the excessive destruction of blood cells (red, white, platelets) by splenic macrophages.

In the course of some diseases, e.g. infectious mononucleosis,rupture of the enlarged spleenmay also occur as a result of even minor trauma and, as a consequence, hemorrhage into the abdominal cavity. In such a situation, it is possibleto remove the spleen( splenectomy ). Fortunately, the body can function without it, although then it is more exposed to infections.

Therefore, any feeling of pressure under the ribs (on the left side) should be consulted with your doctor.

About the authorMonika Majewska A journalist specializing in he alth issues, especially in the areas of medicine, he alth protection and he althy eating. Author of news, guides, interviews with experts and reports. Participant of the largest Polish National Medical Conference "Polish woman in Europe", organized by the "Journalists for He alth" Association, as well as specialist workshops and seminars for journalists organized by the Association.

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