Can Alcohol Damage the Spleen?
Prolonged alcohol abuse can indirectly damage the spleen. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause a type of liver disease that in turn causes the spleen to enlarge to an abnormal size.
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Spleen
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The spleen is an organ that filters and destroys damaged blood cells. The spleen also produces white blood cells and helps to prevent infection, among other functions.
Liver
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The liver is an organ that processes alcohol so that it can be expelled from the body. Alcohol abuse, which overburdens the liver, can cause a condition called alcoholic cirrhosis.
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Cirrhosis
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Cirrhosis, which may cause death, is the replacement of healthy liver tissue with scar tissue. Cirrhosis may cause liver cancer, kidney failure and an enlarged spleen, a condition known as splenomegaly.
Splenomegaly
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An enlarged spleen does not function properly. According to MayoClinic.com, there may be no symptoms of splenomegaly, though some people may experience abdominal pain, frequent infections, fatigue, and they may bleed easily.
Treatment
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Splenomegaly due to alcoholic cirrhosis is initially treated by abstinence from alcohol. In severe cases of splenomegaly, the spleen may need to be surgically removed.
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