Silicone-Induced Splenomegaly

Abstract

SPLENIC sequestration of blood cells has been identified by several investigators as one cause of pancytopenia in dialyzed patients.^{1 , 2} In the case described below, a foreign-body reaction to silicone in the spleen was identified as a cause of pancytopenia, which responded to splenectomy.Case ReportThe patient was a woman born in 1920, who had polycystic kidneys. In February 1971, her serum creatinine was 9.1 mg per deciliter, her hemoglobin was 12.8 g per deciliter, her leukocyte count was 6500 per microliter, and her platelet count was 204,000 per microliter. Since November 1971, she has been receiving maintenance hemodialysis — . . .