Immunorestorative effects of reimplanted splenic tissue and splenosis

Different immune functions were analysed in detail in 41 patients who had been splenectomized after a traumatic rupture of the spleen within four years after surgical intervention. Patients were assigned to one of the following groups as judged by liver/spleen scintigraphy: (1) patients with reimplanted splenic tissue, (2) patients with splenosis, and (3) patients without splenic tissue. Leukocytosis and an increased number of total lymphocytes as well as B-cells were observed in patients of all groups. In addition, the number of circulating T-suppressor cells was significantly increased in patients with no detectable splenic tissue. In contrast, serum concentrations of immunoglobulins and complement components were in the normal range; similarly, phagocytosis-associated functions of the patients' neutrophils and monocytes were found to be unimpaired (chemiluminescence and particle uptake). However, in all groups of splenectomized patients a deficiency in specific serum opsonic activity against a strain of Escherichia coli (O:102, H:6) could be detected. We conclude that neither splenosis nor autologous reimplantation of splenic tissue restores opsonic deficiency caused by splenectomy.