Your spleen plays a very crucial role in removing toxins from your blood. When a spleen becomes enlarged, which often results from some other medical condition, you may experience hypersplenism. This condition causes the organ to become overactive, which leads to a loss of healthy blood cells.
Hypersplenism usually follows splenomegaly, which is also known as spleen enlargement. Spleen enlargement typically results from some other medical condition or disorder, and treating these conditions can sometimes resolve issues with spleen overactivity. Here are some common causes of splenomegaly and how medication can help address them:
By addressing these underlying health issues, doctors hope to restore the normal function of the spleen.
In addition to medication, people experiencing splenomegaly/hypersplenism may also need blood transfusions to ensure a sufficient amount of blood cells. If symptoms are severe and other treatments aren’t getting the desired results, doctors may recommend removing the spleen (a procedure known as splenectomy). After the surgery, many patients need to take a daily antibiotic for life to ward off illness due to the spleen’s impact on immune function.