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Evaluation of platelet function in postsplenectomy thrombocytosis
The usually transient post-splenectomy thrombocytosis has no well defined effect on the development of thromboembolism. We studied 14 patients submitted to splenectomy for different causes: portal vein thrombosis (PVT), idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) and lymphoma. The mean platelet count in PVT patients was significantly higher than in all other subjects. In PVT group we demonstrated various alterations in platelet aggregation curves and a frequent increase of platelet 5-HT levels. In effect, we noted that all the PVT patients showed a myeloproliferative disease (MPD) before the surgical procedure. We therefore conclude that the increased incidence of thromboembolism in the patients who underwent splenectomy is probably caused by a preexisting MPD rather than the post-splenectomy thrombocytosis.
The usually transient post-splenectomy thrombocytosis has no well defined effect on the development of thromboembolism. We studied 14 patients submitted to splenectomy for different causes: portal vein thrombosis (PVT), idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) and lymphoma. The mean platelet count in PVT patients was significantly higher than in all other subjects. In PVT group we demonstrated various alterations in platelet aggregation curves and a frequent increase of platelet 5-HT levels. In effect, we noted that all the PVT patients showed a myeloproliferative disease (MPD) before the surgical procedure. We therefore conclude that the increased incidence of thromboembolism in the patients who underwent splenectomy is probably caused by a preexisting MPD rather than the post-splenectomy thrombocytosis.