Splenic functions in thalassemia major.

Platelet and factor VIII (F-VIII) storage and phagocytic functions of the spleen were studied in 15 patients with β-thalassemia major who were not splenectomized and in 7 patients with Hb-S-b-thalassemia. Eight splenectomized patients, 4 patients with b-thalassemia major, and 11 healthy children served as controls. F-VIII elevation following adrenalin was not found to be a sensitive index in the evaluation of “functional hyposplenia.” No fuctional derangement of the organ was shown in the patients with b-thalassemia major. However, one of the tests showed that at least 30% of the patients had functional hyposplenism. Higher platelet counts were observed in the patients without palpable spleen, and the independence of the splenic functions were shown.