Hypersplenism

What it means

A malfunctioning of the spleen in which it prematurely destroys red blood cells.

The spleen normally functions to remove senescent red blood cells (RBCs) from the circulation. Hypersplenism represents a pathological acceleration of this function, resulting in the premature removal from the circulation of RBCs and other cellular components of the blood, often accompanied by an increase in size of the spleen (splenomegaly).

Rare diseases that can present with this14

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category