postsplenectomy syndrome

postsplenectomy syndrome

Hematology A constellation of findings that follow splenectomy, which are most marked in the erythroid series, as the spleen is responsible for 'pitting' and 'culling' effete or defective RBCs Clinical Thrombocytosis, hemolysis, ↑ risk of severe infections, especially to encapsulated bacteria–eg, S pneumonia Lab ↑ Lifespan of RBCs, codocytes or target cells, schistocytes, Howell-Jolly bodies-nuclear chromatin remnants, thrombocytosis

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.