title: Splenic function in haemophilia.
abstract: Studies of splenic function were carried out on 17 haemophilic patients over 9 years of age, and 20 control patients. The clearance of autologous heat-damaged 99mTc-labelled erythrocytes from circulation and into the spleen was measured: the spleen area by scintillation scanning, and the enumeration of pitted erythrocytes by direct interference microscopy. Splenic enlargement was observed in 10 patients (59%). On the basis of the clearance half-time, splenic function was normal in 3/13 (23%) and hyperactive in 9/13 (69%) patients. One heavily transfused patient had a hypoactive spleen with long clearance half-time, slow splenic uptake of radioactivity and high pit counts. These results demonstrate that the spleen of haemophiliacs is usually enlarged and functionally abnormal.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*