title: Splenectomy and subsequent mortality in veterans of the 1939-45 war.
abstract: A long-term follow-up of 740 American servicemen splenectomised because of trauma during the 1939-45 war showed a significant excess mortality from pneumonia and ischaemic heart-disease. Mortality from cirrhosis was also increased, but not significantly. The findings confirm that the risk of fatal infections is increased by asplenia; however, the risk of cancer was not increased, as it is in some other immunodeficiency states. Post-splenectomy thrombocytosis and hypercoagulability may account for the increased risk of fatal myocardial ischaemia in this group.
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000401:mortality*; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries; D013156:Splenectomy; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014857:Warfare