Autosplenectomy

An autosplenectomy occurs when a diseasedamages the spleento such an extent that it is non-functioning and so equivalent to the spleen having been surgically removed (splenectomy). This may occur in sickle-cell diseaseand spherocytosis.

Absence of effective splenic function (asplenia) is associated with increased risks of overwhelming post splenectomy infection.

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It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autosplenectomy Wikipedia article Autosplenectomy.