There are many diseases associated with the spleen. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, the spleen is an important part of a person's immune system. The spleen, which is approximately the size of a fist, wards off infection and helps the body with fluid balance. The NIH states that diseases may arise in the spleen, or the spleen may be affected by other diseases.
Splenic Infarction
Spleen cancer is a disease of the spleen. According to the American Cancer Society, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, or NHL, is a cancer that manifests in lymphocytes--white blood cells that are part of a person's immune system. Lymphocytes are located in the lymph nodes and other lymphocyte-containing tissue, including the spleen and bone marrow. The ACS states that the spleen produces lymphocytes, along with other immune system cells, to fend off infection. The spleen also stores healthy blood cells and scavenges damaged blood cells, bacteria and metabolic byproducts or debris. There are numerous types of NHL, although most are classified as either B-cell lymphomas of T-cell lymphomas, based on their appearance under a microscope. According to the ACS, the spleen may be affected by mantle cell lymphoma, splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a spleen-related disease. The Foundation For Sarcoidosis Research, or FSR, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping sarcoidosis patients and finding a cure for the disease, states that sarcoidosis is a multi-organ disease, which means that it targets more than one organ. Sarcoidosis causes lumps of inflamed tissue known as granulomas to form in an organ and affect its function. According to the FSR, spleen-related sarcoidosis typically does not cause symptoms, although some people may experience a total body sense of fatigue, or pain or pressure in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen just under the ribs. Although many people with sarcoidosis may be asymptomatic, sarcoidosis can cause a person to experience fever, weight loss, night sweats and an overall sense of poor health.
Gaucher's Disease
Gaucher's disease is another spleen-related disease. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or NINDS, Gaucher's disease is a genetic metabolic disorder. It is characterized by the excessive and harmful accumulation of glucocerebroside, a fatty substance in the liver, lungs, bone marrow, brain and spleen. The NINDS states that there are three principle types of Gaucher's disease: type 1, type 2 and type 3. Type 1 Gaucher's disease is the most common. A person with type 1 Gaucher's disease may bruise easily and feel fatigued due to anemia and a reduced platelet count, and may also possess an enlarged liver and spleen. According to the National Gaucher Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for Gaucher's disease, Gaucher's disease results from an enzyme deficiency that's caused by a gene mutation inherited from both parents.
