There are several health conditions that can affect the spleen, which can lead to either surgical removal (splenectomy) or loss of function (hyposplenism).
Asplenia means a person does not have a spleen. This may be because they were born without one or because the spleen was removed during a surgical procedure called a splenectomy.
Hyposplenism occurs when the spleen is present but does not function as effectively as it should.
This reduced function can develop a range of medical conditions or treatments. and may affect the body's ability to fight infection.
A blood test may be used to look for small remnants inside red blood cells called Howell-Jolly bodies. These are normally removed by a healthy spleen, so their presence can indicate that the spleen is not working properly and their are some other specialised blood tests that can also help to assess how well the spleen is functioning.
In some cases, specialised imaging tests may be recommended to assess spleen function. These tests can show how effectively the spleen filters blood cells.
The degree of spleen dysfunction can vary from person to person.
Some people may have mild impairment, while others may have little to no spleen function.
Learn more about out Living without a functioning spleen