why thalassemia cause enlargement of spleen????
why thalassemia cause enlargement of spleen????
1 個解答
- CCLv 61 十年前最愛解答
different types of thalassemia all cause anemia (low hemoglobin)
due to a genetic defect in the gene for hemoglobin, the hemoglobin is not synthesized normally, and some of the hemoglobin molecules are abnormal
if the hemoglobin is abnormal, the red blood cells are abnormal also
so, there are 2 problems:
1. there are insufficient normal working hemoglobin, and the spleen (and liver) will try to make more red blood cells (so called extramedullary hematopoiesis)
-> makes the spleen work harder
2. there are many abnormal red blood cells in the blood, and the spleen has to eat them up
-> makes the spleen work harder
it is a general rule for the organs to grow bigger if they need to work harder
its why the spleen will become bigger in thalassemia