Sickle cell disease can cause infarcts in the spleen that may lead to autosplenectomy. Which organ is affected?

Sickle cell disease can cause infarcts in the spleen that may lead to autosplenectomy. Which organ is affected?

• A. Lungs
• B. Spleen
• C. Heart
• D. Liver

Answer: (B)

Repeated splenic vaso-occlusive infarctions from sickled red cells cause the spleen to undergo progressive fibrosis and shrinkage, eventually leading to autosplenectomy. The organ affected by this process is the spleen. As the spleen becomes nonfunctional, the patient acquires functional asplenia, which raises risk for infections with encapsulated organisms. While sickle cell disease can involve other organs in different complications, the described pattern of autosplenectomy specifically targets the spleen.

Repeated splenic vaso-occlusive infarctions from sickled red cells cause the spleen to undergo progressive fibrosis and shrinkage, eventually leading to autosplenectomy. The organ affected by this process is the spleen. As the spleen becomes nonfunctional, the patient acquires functional asplenia, which raises risk for infections with encapsulated organisms. While sickle cell disease can involve other organs in different complications, the described pattern of autosplenectomy specifically targets the spleen.