Thrombocytosis following splenectomy: with or without additional organ resection

Splenectomy is one of the main causes of reactive thrombocytosis. In most cases, thrombocytosis found incidentally is harmless and resolves spontaneously; however, extreme thrombocytosis may result in thrombotic events such as acute myocardial infarction, mesenteric vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Thus, there are no clear indications for determining which patients with reactive thrombocytosis require treatment. In this study, we evaluated reactive thrombocytosis that developed after splenectomy with or without additional organ resection.

We retrospectively studied 70 patients who underwent splenectomy. These patients were divided into 2 groups: the only splenectomy group (group A) and the splenectomy with additional organ resection group (group B).

Both the platelet count at 1 week and 1 month after the operation (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively) and the incidence rate of thrombocytosis at 1 week and 1 month (p<0.4089 and p<0.0007, respectively) were significantly higher in group A than in group B. All patients in both groups recovered from thrombocytosis without any platelet reduction therapy and there was no postoperative thrombosis.

Splenectomy often results in reactive thrombocytosis; however, platelet reduction therapy is not required for treating postsplenectomy reactive thrombocytosis.