What are the causes of spleen enlargement?

The problem of splenomegaly needs to be taken seriously, and timely treatment and coping methods need to be taken. Common causes include infectious splenomegaly, cirrhosis, and chronic hemolytic anemia, so these diseases also need to be treated and regulated.

1. Infectious splenomegaly

Clinical manifestations include fever, rash, skin petechiae, enlarged liver, spleen and lymph nodes. Splenomegaly is generally mild and soft. Such diseases include typhoid fever, sepsis, viral hepatitis, bacterial endocarditis, malaria and other diseases, which can generally be diagnosed through the detection of corresponding pathogens.

2. Cirrhosis

There is a history of hepatitis or schistosomiasis infection, with a slow onset and clinical manifestations of weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal distension, bleeding tendency, ascites, etc. Physical examination shows varicose veins of the abdominal wall and splenomegaly, which are mostly mild to moderate. Schistosomiasis-induced liver fibrosis may manifest as splenomegaly, and hypersplenism may occur in the late stage. The diagnosis can be made through medical history, clinical manifestations, liver function tests, B-ultrasound and other examinations.

3. Chronic hemolytic anemia

Splenomegaly caused by hemolysis is generally mild to moderate, with symptoms including anemia, jaundice, etc. Laboratory examinations may show increased reticulocytes, significantly active proliferation of bone marrow erythrocytes, increased serum indirect or unconjugated bilirubin, and increased urobilinogen.

4. Leukemia

The course of acute leukemia progresses rapidly, with symptoms such as infection, anemia, and bleeding, and the spleen is often slightly enlarged; chronic leukemia has a slow onset, and as the disease progresses, the spleen may become highly enlarged. Immature early white blood cells may be detected in peripheral blood examination, and a large number of primitive cells or immature white blood cells may be detected in bone marrow examination. Generally, various types of leukemia can be distinguished based on peripheral blood picture and bone marrow puncture examination.

5. Malignant lymphoma

Malignant lymphoma is manifested by painless local or systemic lymphadenopathy, accompanied by fever and liver enlargement. Mild to moderate enlargement of the spleen is common, and RS cells or lymphoma cells may be found in lymph node biopsy and bone marrow smear.