Outcome of partial splenectomy for type I Gaucher disease

Abstract

Partial splenectomy was introduced to achieve the benefits of splenectomy and to avoid the risk of overwhelming infection in patients with symptomatic Gaucher disease. We observed regrowth of the splenic remnant, reemergence of preoperative symptoms, and new bone involvement among most of our patients who had undergone partial splenectomy. Enzyme replacement therapy has markedly limited indications for splenectomy, partial or total, for Gaucher disease. ( J PEDIATR 1995;126:596-7)