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Why can removing the spleen improve anemia caused by hereditary spherocytosis?
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blood disease
Peripheral blood smear revealing histopathologic features indicative of a blast crisis in a case of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Blast crisis occurs when one-fifth to one-third of the cells in the blood or bone marrow are immature blood cells, or blast cells. This phase of CML is characterized by fever, weakness, and an enlarged spleen.
In hereditary spherocytosis, red blood cells possess a weakened cell membrane and an abnormal, spherical shape. Because of this shape, these cells tend to remain in the spleen for longer than normal, where they are sequestered and destroyed.12
Removing the spleen, a procedure known as a splenectomy, improves anemia by eliminating this primary site of sequestration and destruction. By preventing the spleen from trapping and breaking down these fragile cells, their survival time in the circulation increases, which effectively cures the anemia in nearly all cases. While this surgery addresses the clinical symptoms of anemia, it does not correct the underlying genetic defect in blood cell production.12