Why does leukocytosis occur after splenectomy?

Thrombocytopenia is a physiologic response to sepsis due to increased platelet adhesiveness and consumption. The combination of splenectomy and sepsis may lead to a milder increase of the platelet count. The same combination leads to an augmented leukocytotic response.

What happens to WBC after splenectomy?

Background: The White Blood Cell (WBC) and Platelet (PLT) counts typically increase after a splenectomy. These changes make interpretation of postoperative lab values difficult and may unduly raise concerns for complications.

Does splenectomy cause thrombocytosis?

Splenectomy was found to be one of the main causes of thrombocytosis. The probability of thrombocytosis in patients who have had splenectomy is about 75∼82% and about 9% of all reactive thrombocytosis occurrences are caused by this procedure.

How would splenectomy removal of spleen affect the patient’s platelet count?

Theoretically, if the spleen is removed, the platelets will remain in the blood stream. The spleen can also be the site of antibody production. Therefore removing the spleen may reduce the amount of anti-platelet antibodies in addition to removing the antibody-coated platelets.

Can splenectomy cause elevated WBC?

Background: Transient elevations of the serum white blood cell count (WBC) and platelet count (PC) are normal physiologic responses after splenectomy. The clinician is often challenged to identify an infection in a postsplenectomy patient with an elevated WBC.

What is post splenectomy thrombocytosis?

Postsplenectomy venous thrombosis is usually associated with platelet counts >600 to 800 K/μL (6, 7) and occurs in approximately 5% of patients (8). Less commonly, postsplenectomy thrombocytosis results in arterial thrombosis that leads to stroke or myocardial infarction (9, 10).

What happens to platelets after splenectomy?

An increase in blood leukocytes can occur following a splenectomy. The post-splenectomy platelet count may rise to abnormally high levels (thrombocytosis), leading to an increased risk of potentially fatal clot formation.

What is post-splenectomy syndrome?

The major long-term complication of splenectomy is OPSI, also known as post-splenectomy sepsis syndrome, which is defined as a generalized non-specific flu-like prodrome followed by rapid deterioration to full-blown fulminant septic shock within 24-48 hours of the onset [9].

Why does splenectomy cause thrombocytosis?

The early, highly significant thrombocytosis, following both splenectomy and general surgery, is caused by increased production of platelets due to the surgical trauma. This is caused by a direct action on bone marrow MK by transforming 2N-8N MK into higher ploidy classes.

What happens to thrombocytosis after a splenectomy?

In conclusion, the patients who undergo splenectomy as part of cytoreductive surgeries have a statistically significant leukocytosis and insignificant thrombocytosis relative to the control patients. Leukocytosis alone is not an accurate indicator of infection.

What is the average postchemotherapy WBC after a splenectomy?

Median postchemotherapy nadir WBC was 4.4 (range: 3.4-4.8) for the splenectomy group versus 2.8 (range: 2.5-3.0) for the control group. Median postchemotherapy nadir ANC was 1800 (range: 1320-2450) for the splenectomy group and 1001 (range: 864-1064) for the control group.

What are the side effects of postsplenectomy venous thrombosis?

Common complications of thrombocytosis include thrombosis and hemorrhage. Postsplenectomy venous thrombosis is usually associated with platelet counts >600 to 800 K/μL (6, 7) and occurs in approximately 5% of patients (8).

What are the effects of a cytoreduction splenectomy?

Hematologic changes after splenectomy for cytoreduction: implications for predicting infection and effects on chemotherapy Int J Gynecol Cancer. Nov-Dec 2006;16(6):1957-62.doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1438.2006.00725.x. Authors M A Bidus 1 , T C Krivak, R Howard, G S Rose, J Cosin, L Dainty, J C Elkas