Causes of enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)

Comment by John P. Cunha, FACOEP

The spleen is an organ located in the upper left of the part of your abdomen under your rib cage toward your back. It is part of the lymphatic system and it helps to rid your body of the bacteria and fight infection. The spleen may become enlarged (splenomegaly) due to many different causes.

Common causes of splenomegaly include:

liver disease (cirrhosis), cancers of the blood or bone (such as lymphoma, leukemia, polycythaemia Vera vera and thrombocythemia), infection (Mononucleosis, endocarditis, AIDS, malaria), ongestion or inflammation (heart failure) and primary splenic disease (thrombosis of the splenic vein).

Other causes of splenomegaly include:

sickle cell anemia, lupus, trauma, cysts, abscesses and certain medications.

In children, the causes of the expansion of the spleen are usually the result of a reaction overactive immune to infection, or disorders of the immune system.

Read what others speak as the cause of their expansion of the spleen.

REFERENCES:

UpToDate. Approach to the patient with splenomegaly and other splenic disorders adult.

UpToDate. Approach to the child with an expansion of the spleen.

Last editorial review: 2013-07-26 13:39:41

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