The Splenic Platelet Reservoir in Sickle Cell Anemia

The presence of hypersplenism andfunctional asplenia occurring concomitantly in a child with sickle cell anemiaprompted a study of the splenic platelet reservoir in this hemoglobinopathy.The young child with sickle cell anemiaand a large spleen, who is unable toremove Howell-Jolly bodies, concentrate ^99mTc sulfur colloid in his spleen,or respond to intravenous particulateantigen, retains the splenic reservoirfunction to pool platelets. This reservoir function is lost in the older patientin whom the spleen has become autoinfarcted. Thus, an independence ofcertain splenic functions is present inyoung children with sickle cell anemiawho have splenomegaly.

Submitted on February 29, 1972 Revised on June 2, 1972 Accepted on June 11, 1972