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Studies of splenic function were carried out on 17 haemophilic patients over 9 years of age, and 20 control patients. The clearance of autologous heat-damaged 99mTc-labelled erythrocytes from circulation and into the spleen was measured: the spleen area by scintillation scanning, and the enumeration of pitted erythrocytes by direct interference microscopy. Splenic enlargement was observed in 10 patients (59%). On the basis of the clearance half-time, splenic function was normal in 3/13 (23%) and hyperactive in 9/13 (69%) patients. One heavily transfused patient had a hypoactive spleen with long clearance half-time, slow splenic uptake of radioactivity and high pit counts. These results demonstrate that the spleen of haemophiliacs is usually enlarged and functionally abnormal.
Studies of splenic function were carried out on 17 haemophilic patients over 9 years of age, and 20 control patients. The clearance of autologous heat-damaged 99mTc-labelled erythrocytes from circulation and into the spleen was measured: the spleen area by scintillation scanning, and the enumeration of pitted erythrocytes by direct interference microscopy. Splenic enlargement was observed in 10 patients (59%). On the basis of the clearance half-time, splenic function was normal in 3/13 (23%) and hyperactive in 9/13 (69%) patients. One heavily transfused patient had a hypoactive spleen with long clearance half-time, slow splenic uptake of radioactivity and high pit counts. These results demonstrate that the spleen of haemophiliacs is usually enlarged and functionally abnormal.