Anemia's Effect on the Spleen
Anemia is a health condition in which the amounts of red blood cells in the body are below normal. Extrinsic hemolytic anemia is a form of anemia that affects the spleen.
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What is the Spleen?
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According to the Mayo Clinic, the spleen is an organ that lies just below the rib cage on the left side of the abdomen. The spleen's primary function is to filter out any bacteria that are in the bloodstream as well as, to remove worn-out blood cells. It also acts as a storage site for healthy blood cells.
Extrinsic Hemolytic Anemia
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The Methodist Hospital explains that extrinsic hemolytic anemia is caused by healthy blood cells that are destroyed by the body and removed from the bloodstream by the spleen. The more red blood cells that the spleen devours, the bigger it becomes.
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Enlarged Spleen
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An enlarged spleen will begin to trap healthy red blood cells as well as the old ones if extrinsic hemolytic anemia persists. Merck explains that eventually an enlarged spleen can grow so big that it can become damaged.
Rupture
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An enlarged spleen is susceptible to rupture, which happen during any kind of blunt trauma. According to Georgiahealthinfo.gov, a ruptured spleen can begin to leak blood into the abdomen, causing a life-threatening emergency.
Treatment
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The underlying anemia must be treated in order for the spleen to return to a normal and healthy size. However, if the spleen that has become so enlarged that rupture may occur before the anemic condition is corrected, surgical removal of the spleen may be necessary.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Rob Pongsajapan
