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Studies of Splenic Function in the Myeloproliferative Disorders and Generalized Malignant Lymphomas
Author(s) -
Pettit J. E.,
Williams E. D.,
Glass H. I.,
Lewis S. M.,
Szur L.,
Wicks C. J.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1971.tb00796.x
Subject(s) - spleen , pathology , red cell , medicine , red pulp , lymphoproliferative disorders , lymphoma , bone marrow , lymphatic system , gastroenterology , chemistry , immunology
S ummary . The relative importance of splenic red‐cell pooling, sequestration and cell destruction in the causation of anaemia has been studied in 29 patients—16 with generalized lymphoproliferative disease, 12 with myeloproliferative disease and one with idiopathic autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. A scanning method with [ 11 C]carbon monoxide was used for direct in vivo measurement of splenic red‐cell volume, and the spleen was delineated by‐a scan after injection of 81 Rb‐labelled red cells, damaged with non‐radioactive 1‐mercuri‐2‐hydroxypropane (MHP). The clearance time of the damaged cells from the circulation was used as an index of splenic function. The fraction of red cells in the spleen varied from 2.9% to 32% and the splenic red‐cell volume ranged from 38 to 1000 ml. In patients with lymphoproliferative disorders their spleens contained a smaller proportion of red cells, relative to splenic size, than patients with myeloproliferative disease. Clearance of cells damaged with 1‐mercuri‐2‐hydroxypropane (MHP) was 30–60 min in normal subjects. Slow clearances were found in some patients with lymphosarcoma; fastest clearances occurred in patients with obvious haemolytic anaemia. No clear relationship was noted between the rate of clearance and splenic size or splenic red‐cell volume.