The spleen is a litmus test that reflects the health of the human body. Its enlargement may signal a developing infection or serious cancer, or even a rare genetic Gaucher disease. Check what to look for and when to react!
The spleen filters the blood – it retains cells that are foreign to the body and destroys them with the help of the antibodies (immune cells) it produces. The enlargement of the spleen can be a symptom of infectious, metabolic, storage and cancer diseases.
– The spleen is on the left side of the abdomen, under the ribs. Under normal conditions, it is imperceptible in adults. If it can be detected by touch (palpation), it means that it has increased in volume by at least 150 percent. and in the body there is a disease process and further diagnostics is required – says prof. Wiesław Jędrzejczak, National consultant in the field of hematology.
An enlarged spleen can cause a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, nausea, abdominal pain and even back pain radiating from the left upper abdomen.
Due to the direct connection of the spleen with blood and the process of blood cell production, the first test that a doctor may recommend is a blood count. Later, you may need to consult a hematologist who will determine the cause of splenomegaly – that is, enlargement of the spleen.
Cancer or maybe genetic disease?
– When the symptom of an enlarged spleen is accompanied by thrombocytopenia or anemia, a tendency to bleeding or bruising and general weakness, we first exclude blood cancer – e.g. acute or chronic myeloid leukemia or lymphomas. If the cause does not lie in the neoplasm, it is worth paying attention to metabolic diseases that have very similar symptoms – e.g. Gaucher disease – adds prof. Wiesław Jędrzejczak.
– For as long as I can remember, my blood test results have never been perfect – especially the reduced values of platelets were visible. My immunity was compromised, I was quite weak and my spleen was growing. Doctors suspected that I had leukemia, which luckily was ruled out. The hematologist was concerned about the changes visible on the enlarged spleen, and I heard the suspicion of lymphoma. After the spleen removal surgery, I heard a diagnosis of Gaucher disease, I was 34 at the time, says Katarzyna, a patient with Gaucher disease.
3 out of 100 patients with spleen enlargement and / or thrombocytopenia and an excluded blood cancer may have Gaucher disease. * Gaucher disease is a rare genetic disease caused by the decreased action of one of the naturally produced enzymes in the human body – glucocerebrosidase. Untreated Gaucher disease leads to the destruction of internal organs – the spleen, liver, as well as bone marrow and bones.
*Mistry PK, Sadan S, Yang R, Yee J, Yang M. Consequences of diagnostic delays in type 1 Gaucher disease: the need for greater awareness among hematologists-oncologists and an opportunity for early diagnosis and intervention. Am J Hematol. 2007;82(8):697-701 GZPL.GD.18.03.0038