Splenectomy outcomes in immune cytopenias: Treatment outcomes and determinants of response

Splenectomy is commonly used to treat refractory immune-mediated cytopenia, but there are no established factors that are associated with response to the procedure.

A cohort study was conducted to evaluate the hematologic and surgical outcomes of splenectomy in adult patients with immune cytopenias and identify preoperative factors associated with response.

Data from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation for 1824 patients aged over 18 who underwent splenectomy from 2002 to 2020 were analyzed.

The study found that the most common indications for splenectomy were immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and autoimmune hemolytic anemia, with a median age of 55 years and median time from diagnosis to splenectomy of 11 months. Hematologic response rates were 74% overall, with relapse in 12% of cases. Postsplenectomy discordant diagnoses were present in 13% of patients, associated with higher relapse rates. Surgery-related complications occurred in 12% of cases, whereas only 3% of patients died from disease complications. On univariate analysis, preoperative factors associated with splenectomy treatment failure were ≥3 lines of pharmacologic treatment, whereas isolated thrombocytopenia, primary ITP, and age ≤40 years had a strong association with response. The multivariable regression confirmed that treatment failure with multiple lines of medical therapy was associated with the failure to respond to splenectomy.

Overall, the study demonstrates that splenectomy is an effective treatment option for immune-mediated cytopenias with a low complication rate.