Spleen

Question 1

White pulp

Answer 1

Lymphatic tissue

Consisting mostly of B and T lymphocytes

Question 2

Red pulp

Answer 2

Consists of venous sinuses filled with blood and cords of lymphatic cells, which is the PRIMARY site for mechanical filtration of the blood and removal of old RBCs

Question 3

Site of rbc and platelet storage

Answer 3

Spleen

Question 4

Amount of blood in the spleen at any given time

Answer 4

450 ml (reservoir of blood)

Question 5

Most common type of hemolytic anemia

Answer 5

Hereditary spherocytosis; 
Spectrin deficiency(RBC membrane) loss of osmotic stability

Do osmotic fragility testing

Diagnosis: positive spherocytosis

Question 6

Sickle cell disease

Answer 6

Autosomal dominant disease where there is sickling of RBCs in tissues with low O2 tension; resulting in splenic microinfarcts

Question 7

Thalassemia major

Answer 7

Homozygous B
Autosomal dominant disease where there is decreased expression of beta chains

Presents as pallor, growth retardation, head enlargement

Question 8

Treatment of choice for autoimmune hemolytic anemia

Answer 8

Corticosteroids 1-2 mg/kg/day
PRBCs for severe anemia
Splenectomy if medical tx fails

Question 9

What should you not give to pts with TTP thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura?

Answer 9

Avoid platelet transfusions: increases morbidity

Question 10

Most common cause of splenomegaly

Answer 10

Infectious mononucleosis