Large spleen

[Tp807]

Hı, İf they say your spleen is VERY large what part does that play in cirrosis. İ thought people had their spleen removed and dıdnt need öne.

[wp69]

I think it means you have portal hypertension and blood flows back through the spleen , mine is mildly enlarged

[AyrshireK]

Spleen enlargement can happen in cirrhosis, which can cause platelets to get stuck in the spleen instead of entering the bloodstream.

In people with chronic liver disease and very severe spleen enlargement, up to 90%of the body’s platelets may be in the spleen.

Portal hypertension, a complication of cirrhosis, is typically the cause of spleen enlargement. It happens when scar tissue disrupts blood flow in the liver and increases blood pressure in the portal vein, which carries blood to the liver from the stomach, intestines, pancreas, gallbladder, and spleen.

They don't tend to remove an enlarged spleen in someone with cirrhosis as it can cause other issues i.e. your spleen actually plays a big role in your immune system so loss of your spleen can impact your ability to fight infection etc. Your spleen is a pretty important organ too.

My hubby had an enlarged spleen due to portal hypertension - his was 19.5cm - his platelet count was really low 20 at one point and needed platelet transfusion. He developed aneurysms in his splenic artery and required an empbolization operation which in effect killed his spleen or made it 'non viable' ...... he now has to take Phenoxymethyl Penicillin daily for life. One good point in loosing his spleen in this way is it stopped his portal hypertension, his platelet count improved and he actually had such improved liver numbers that he was able to be removed from the liver transplant list. That was in 2015 and he's still plodding along.

Katie

[Tp807 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks. Mine is 24cm at the moment but im a 6ft 4 Man. Bottom line is doctor said its very big and not normal.

[AyrshireK in reply to Tp807]

Hubby only a very slight 5ft 5 chap so I guess it's relative.

[chrisuk in reply to AyrshireK]

nice to read your answer my spleen is 22cm so a bit large.but seem to get any answers.

[Wolivere in reply to AyrshireK]

Interestingly the one doctor who tried to tell my wife she had Portal Hypertension, said her spleen was enlarged. Hers was at 12.1 cm, with a platelet count of 141. Her liver was 16.6 with a smooth echogenic texture with mild contour changes. I still can't figure out how the one doctor said ... oh you have cirrhosis?

In the pic I posted was her Ultrasound smooth echogenic texture. Sizes normal to upper normal. The Doppler showed a Normal-sized Portal Vein with proper portal pressure.

Some days you want to scream at the sky.

Lipase (<-60) 45

Protein Total (60-80) 65

Albumin (33-45) 24

Billirubin Total (5-21) 25

Billirubin Direct (0-07) 18

AST (10-48) 18

ALT (<56) 19

GGT (15-56) 57

LD (100-250) 145

Alkaline Phosphate (30-120) 105

Ammonia (11-50) 18

This shows her liver US.

[Ked620]

I’m not sure height has anything to do with it - my hubby’s spleen was 28cm he’s 5ft 11 - he’s suffered with low platelets for over 10 years - he had a liver transplant 5 years ago - he had cirrhosis due to NASH and alpha anti-1 trypsin deficiency. His spleen was left and he still suffers with low platelets he has portal hypertension and he had a huge clot removed at transplant and they stapled his portal vein when he had his transplant, he’s on 3 different tablets for hypertension and still suffering with this to this day - his spleen had shrunken a little after his transplant but is back up now again - so I everyone is different - we are externally grateful to his donor and his family xx