Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 7, 2025
A Mouse Model of Vascularized Heterotopic Spleen Transplantation for Studying Spleen Cell Biology and Transplant Immunity
Published on: June 11, 2019
Does COVID-19 cause an increase in spleen dimensions? Possible effects of immune activation, hematopoietic
Mehmet Tahtabasi1, Tugrul Hosbul2, Ergin Karaman1
1Department of Radiology, University of Health Sciences- Mehmet Akif Inan Education and Research Hospital, Sanliurfa, Turkey.
Insights
Spleen size significantly increases in early COVID-19 infection, correlating with disease severity. This finding is similar to infections causing a cytokine storm.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The spleen plays a crucial role in maintaining hematological and immunological balance.
- Understanding organ-specific changes during viral infections is vital for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To radiologically assess spleen size changes in patients with COVID-19.
- To investigate the correlation between spleen size and COVID-19 severity.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of chest CT scans from 160 COVID-19 patients.
- Evaluation of spleen size and volume on initial and follow-up CT scans.
- Calculation of COVID-19 severity scores based on CT findings.
Main Results:
- Spleen volume and splenic index significantly increased from initial to follow-up CT scans (p < 0.001).
- A significant positive correlation was observed between spleen size and COVID-19 severity scores.
- Spleen width measurements showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.982, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Spleen size shows a slight to moderate increase in the early stages of COVID-19 infection.
- The observed spleen enlargement correlates with COVID-19 severity, suggesting a link to cytokine storm-like responses.
Purpose:
To radiologically examine how the spleen size, which has important functions in hematological and immunological balance, is affected in COVID-19.
Methods:
Between July 1 and August 31, 2020, consecutive patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were analyzed. Among these patients, those who underwent chest computed tomography (CT) examination at the time of presentation, patients with follow-up CT due to clinical deterioration were included in the study. The CTs of the patients were evaluated in terms of spleen size and volume.
Results:
A total of 160 patients (88 females, 55%) were included in the study. The mean time between the initial and follow-up CT was 7.2 ± 2.8 days. The splenic volume (244.3 ± 136.7 vs. 303.5 ± 156.3 cm3) and splenic index (421.2 ± 235.5 vs. 523.2 ± 269.4 cm3) values were significantly higher in the follow-up CT compared to the initial CT (p < 0.001). The increase in the splenic volume and splenic index values was 59.2 ± 52.4 cm3 and 101.9 ± 90.3 cm3 (p < 0.001), respectively. The COVID-19 severity score was significantly higher in the follow-up CT compared to the initial CT (3.7 ± 4.2 vs. 12.5 ± 5.7, respectively; p < 0.001). The spleen width measured separately on the initial and follow-up CTs showed a highest positive correlation (r = 0.982, p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Our study indicates that spleen size increases slightly-moderately in the first stages of the infection, and this increase is correlated with the COVID-19 severity score calculated on the chest CT data, and in this respect, it is similar to infections presenting with cytokine storm.
Related Concept Videos
01:01Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
01:28Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors
Thrombopoietin (TPO), mainly released by the liver,...
01:24Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis
Several factors influence the erythrocyte production rate, with tissue oxygen level being among the most critical. Intense exercise or high altitudes can cause tissue hypoxia, which triggers the kidneys to release more erythropoietin (EPO) into the bloodstream.
EPO then...