The Splenic Platelet Reservoir in Sickle Cell Anemia

The presence of hypersplenism and functional asplenia occurring concomitantly in a child with sickle cell anemia prompted a study of the splenic platelet reservoir in this hemoglobinopathy. The young child with sickle cell anemia and a large spleen, who is unable to remove Howell-Jolly bodies, concentrate ^99mTc sulfur colloid in his spleen, or respond to intravenous particulate antigen, retains the splenic reservoir function to pool platelets. This reservoir function is lost in the older patient in whom the spleen has become autoinfarcted. Thus, an independence of certain splenic functions is present in young children with sickle cell anemia who have splenomegaly.