Table of Contents
How does spleen removal help ITP?
Why remove the spleen? In people with ITP the immune system treats platelets as foreign and destroys them. The spleen is responsible for removing these damaged platelets and therefore removal of the spleen can help to keep more platelets circulating in the body.
How would splenectomy removal of spleen affect the patient’s platelet count?
Theoretically, if the spleen is removed, the platelets will remain in the blood stream. The spleen can also be the site of antibody production. Therefore removing the spleen may reduce the amount of anti-platelet antibodies in addition to removing the antibody-coated platelets.
Does ITP go away after splenectomy?
Splenectomy is an effective treatment for ITP. The failure rate of surgery is about 8\% and the failure rate at 5 years after splenectomy is approximately 28\% for all the patients (3).
What would be a consequence of removal of the spleen?
Like any operation, spleen removal carries a small risk of complications, including bleeding and infection. Your doctor will talk through these risks with you. You should be given breathing and leg exercises to do at home to reduce your risk of getting a blood clot or a chest infection.
What is the success rate of a splenectomy for ITP?
Splenectomy has a success rate that remains nearly identical (about 50\% to 60\%) whether it is performed soon after diagnosis or several months or years later. As yet, there is no consistently effective method to predict an individual ITP patient’s response to splenectomy.
Why would someone need their spleen removed?
The spleen is an organ that sits under your rib cage on the upper left side of your abdomen. It helps fight infection and filters unneeded material, such as old or damaged blood cells, from your blood. The most common reason for splenectomy is to treat a ruptured spleen, which is often caused by an abdominal injury.
Does spleen destroy platelets?
In general, your platelet count drops in ITP because your body makes antibodies that attach to the platelets to mark them for destruction. When these platelets flow through the spleen (an organ in the abdomen that filters blood), it recognizes these antibodies and destroys the platelets.
Can ITP be cured?
A: While there is no cure for ITP, many patients find their platelet count improves following treatment. What proves difficult for many ITP patients is finding the treatment that works for them without unwanted side effects. Some patients report that changing their diet or lifestyle helps them feel better.