Low platelets

[Mselle]

My husband is 94 and has low platelets would you recommend spleen removal at his age. The only other health issue is high blood pressure which is controlled with medication

[sailor]

Your clinician may have other reasons for the spleen removal, but if it purely to try to control the destruction of platelets within the spleen I would ask the question is it definitely the spleen that is destroying the platelets. There is only a 40-50% certainly that spleen removal will work and after removal, the body is open to infection. There are many medications now that will control the platelet count if really needed. Provided there is no bleeding, you can live very happily with a low count so why have major surgery?

If unsure, you could always ask for a second opinion from an ITP specialist. Look at the ITP web site for further information or call them.

[JasonJ]

Hi, I was told that they don't normally remove the spleen when you are past around 50-60 years of age. I think the recovery is more risky at that age.

Also it's usually removed so you don't have to take medication for an extremely long time. I have had mine removed for this reason. I wouldn't like to think of doing this operation at 94, it was pretty hard work afterwards, and I am relatively young!

Sailor is correct that you don't really need to remove it if you can find a medicine that works. Removing it does not mean you will get more infections than before, but if you do get one the body has less ability to kill it, which can be dangerous, especially at 94.

[Mselle in reply to JasonJ]

Before I was diagnosed with Itp I had a severe case of sepsis. Would this condition bring on itp

[AnthonyHeard Administrator ITP Support Association in reply to Mselle]

It might have been the reason that your ITP started BUT we honestly don't really know. ITP can be triggered by many things, for example it could be something as simple as a cold, virus, infection, flu, reaction to a vaccination BUT it is very difficult to pin down anything specific in any individual. It is certainly worth talking it through with your specialist/doctor as they might be able to give you an indication of the likelihood of your ITP having been triggered by your sepsis. But the truth is that it is difficult to be absolutely certain.

[AnthonyHeard Administrator ITP Support Association]

Please do have a look at the following link to our website and the section on Splenectomy....itpsupport.org.uk/index.php...

Hope it helps.

[AnthonyHeard Administrator ITP Support Association]

A full list of all the ITP treatment options is available at .....itpsupport.org.uk/index.php...

[AnthonyHeard Administrator ITP Support Association]

Mselle the really important thing as Sailor mentions is that it is not absolutely certain that it is the spleen which is destroying the platelets. Our platelets can be destroyed by our spleen or our liver. So obviously if you remove the spleen and your platelets are being destroyed in your liver then it will not solve the problem. There is a test called an indium labelled spleen scan which can detect in most cases (about 80 per cent ) whether or not it is the spleen which is destroying platelets. It is certainly useful to have this test before having the spleen removed as it gives a better indication of whether or not having the spleen removed will be helpful or not.

Having the spleen removed is certainly being done less and less nowadays as there are so many other treatment options to try so it is certainly best to give it very careful consideration. You can always get a second opinion from an ITP specialist centre. If you email ITP Support Association HQ on [e-mail] they can let you know which ITP Specialist centres are closest to you. Hope all this helps...best wishes.