Splenomegaly in Patients With Sideropenic Anemias: Clinical and Hematologic Significance

Abstract

Background: Sideropenic anemias (SAs) are a group of hypoproliferative anemias characterized by hyposideremia. Although they run an insidiously started slowly progressive course, they are a pointer for an underlying serious disease. Fortunately, in most cases, management of SAs is available, effective and relatively inexpensive. Splenomegaly was reported in patients with SAs with variation in Hacckett's grading and hematological profile. Etiopathogenesis of splenomegaly in SAs was mainly explained as related to the underlying pathologic process of anemia or as a component of the rarely occurring Paterson-Kelly syndrome. Apart from these, etiopathogenesis of splenomegaly in SAs is still a fruitful point for current research. The aim of the present study was to assess splenomegaly in patients with SAs in terms of frequency, clinical and hematological profile of splenomegaly in SAs. Another aim was to assess prognostic significance and assume etiopathogenesis of splenomegaly in SAs.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 83 patients with SAs and 25 normal sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Patients’ demographic, clinical and hematologic data were collected through thorough history and clinical examination. Splenomegaly was assessed with clinical examination of the study subjects, graded with Hachett’s clinical grading, and then confirmed with ultrasonographic examination. Patients were treated as per the published guidelines for treatment of SAs. Those with splenomegaly were subjected to a strict follow-up plan.

Results and conclusion: Analysis of the collected data showed that splenomegaly is of robust clinical and hematologic significance in patients with SAs.




J Hematol. 2016;5(3):83-93
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jh286w

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