Splenic size and function in adult coeliac disease

Splenic scintigraphy was performed after measurement of 99Tcm-labelled heat-damaged red cell clearance in 29 patients with treated coeliac disease. Good correlation was found between splenic size and function using these techniques. 99Tcm-labelled sulphur colloid scintiscans were also performed in 24 coeliacs. Splenic volumes computed from colloid scans correlated well with those computed from red cell scans. Almost 50% of adult patients with treated coeliac disease have impaired splenic function, the incidence rising with increasing age of starting treatment. Sulphur colloid scintigraphgy provides a simple quantitative method of assessing splenic function in treated coeliac disease which can be used in exploring the possibilities of avoidance of the adverse effects of hyposplenism.