[The spleen: between mysteries and discoveries]

Rev Med Suisse. 2010 Nov 3;6(269):2080-2, 2084-5.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Mainly because it is possible to live without it, the spleen has always been considered a secondary and mysterious organ. However, recent observations have revealed new unsuspected functions for this organ whose patho-physiological importance should be reconsidered. Much less known than the hypersplenism, the hyposplenism corresponds historically to the loss or the insufficiency of the two principal functions of spleen: the filtration of faded or senescent elements from the blood and the fight against infections. In this article, after a short recall of the physiological functions of spleen, three innovations relating to hyposplenism will be explored: the vascular complications, the loss of the splenic pool of regenerating monocytes and the loss of the splenic pool of pluripotent mesenchymal stem cell.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Atherosclerosis / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Phagocytosis*
  • Risk Factors
  • Spleen* / blood supply
  • Spleen* / physiology
  • Spleen* / physiopathology
  • Splenic Diseases / blood
  • Splenic Diseases / complications
  • Splenic Diseases / diagnosis
  • Splenic Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Thromboembolism / physiopathology