Improvement of hematologic parameters after subtotal splenectomy during the follow-up period.

Hemoglobin values and reticulocyte counts were assessed for a 3-year period before surgery and for up to 12 years after subtotal splenectomy. Even after a Bonferroni correction, mean hemoglobin increased significantly from a preoperative mean value of 9.2 ± 2.6 g/dL to respectively 12.7 ± 1.2 g/dL (31 children) (P < .001), 12.6 ± 1.9 (15 children) (P < .001), 12.3 ± 1.9 g/dL (8 children) (P < .01), 11.7 ± 2.0 g/dL (10 children) (P < .01) at 6 to 18 months, 3 to 4 years, 5 to 6 years, 7 to 9 years after surgery; at 10 years, increase in hemoglobin was at the limit of significance (11.1 to1.7 g/dL in 4 children;P = .06). The reticulocyte count decreased significantly from 523 ± 442 × 10⁹/L before surgery to 267 ± 130 × 10⁹/L at 6 to 18 months after surgery (31 children) (P < .05). This decrease in reticulocyte count persisted during subsequent years (388 ± 224 × 10⁹/L [12 children] at 3 to 4 years; 425 ± 194 × 10⁹/L [8 children] at 5 to 6 years; 327 ± 246 × 10⁹/L [9 children] at 7 to 9 years; and 268 ± 81 × 10⁹/L [4 children] at 10 years and more), but without statistical significance. The arrow indicates the time of surgery.