Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Splenectomy is one of the main causes of reactive thrombocytosis. In most cases, thrombocytosis found incidentally is harmless and resolves spontaneously; however, extreme thrombocytosis may result in thrombotic events such as acute myocardial infarction, mesenteric vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Thus, there are no clear indications for determining which patients with reactive thrombocytosis require treatment. In this study, we evaluated reactive thrombocytosis that developed after splenectomy with or without additional organ resection.
METHODOLOGY
We retrospectively studied 70 patients who underwent splenectomy. These patients were divided into 2 groups: the only splenectomy group (group A) and the splenectomy with additional organ resection group (group B).
RESULTS
Both the platelet count at 1 week and 1 month after the operation (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively) and the incidence rate of thrombocytosis at 1 week and 1 month (p<0.4089 and p<0.0007, respectively) were significantly higher in group A than in group B. All patients in both groups recovered from thrombocytosis without any platelet reduction therapy and there was no postoperative thrombosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Splenectomy often results in reactive thrombocytosis; however, platelet reduction therapy is not required for treating postsplenectomy reactive thrombocytosis.

Authors

Oida T, Kano H, Mimatsu K, Kawasaki A, Kuboi Y, Fukino N, Kida K, Amano S

Institution

Department of Surgery, Social Insurance Yokohama Central Hospital, Yokohama, Japan. ooida.takatsugu@yokochu.jp

Source

Hepato-gastroenterology 59:116 2012 Jun pg 1033-5

MeSH

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Humans
Interleukin-6
Male
Middle Aged
Platelet Count
Retrospective Studies
Splenectomy
Thrombocytosis

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22580653