What Is Hepatosplenomegaly?
Hepatomegaly is the term used to describe an enlarged liver, and splenomegaly refers to a swollen spleen. Hepatosplenomegaly is the term used to describe a condition where both the liver and spleen are enlarged simultaneously. A diagnosis of hepatosplenomegaly can be made by a physician during a clinical examination, if he or she finds that both the patient's liver and spleen are swollen beyond their normal size.
One of the most common causes of hepatosplenomegaly is infectious mononucleosis — commonly known simply as mono — a highly contagious viral infection that can be spread from person to person through saliva and mucus. In addition to hepatosplenomegaly, mono may also cause enlarged lymph nodes, high fevers and a severe sore throat. This illness is most commonly diagnosed in patients aged 15 to 17.
Another common cause of hepatosplenomegaly is acute viral hepatitis, an inflammation brought on by an infection with any of the five hepatitis viruses. Hepatitis A and B are the most common causes of acute viral hepatitis. In addition to an enlarged liver and spleen, patients with acute viral hepatitis may also experience poor appetite, fever and jaundice, and a yellowish discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes. Patients diagnosed with acute viral hepatitis usually make a full recovery in four to eight weeks.
Hepatosplenomegaly may also be a symptom of a more serious group of illnesses, known as lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). LSDs are comprised of approximately 50 rare, genetic diseases typically characterized by the absence or deficiency of enzymes responsible for breaking down macromolecules within the cells' lysosomes — small membrane-bound organelles. The most common LSDs are Gaucher's, Niemann-Pick and Tay-Sachs diseases. These conditions are usually diagnosed in very early childhood and can cause death shortly thereafter. There is no cure for LSDs, though treatment with bone marrow transplantation and enzyme replacement therapy has shown some success at alleviating certain symptoms.
Other causes of hepatosplenomegaly may include infectious illnesses, such as tuberculosis and malaria; malignancies, including lymphomas and leukemias; and auto-immune disorders, like systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. An enlarged liver and spleen usually indicate a more serious medical problem, so the condition should always be evaluated by a physician. The treatment of hepatosplenomegaly depends upon the cause and, in most cases, the enlarged liver and spleen return to normal size once the underlying condition is resolved.
Written by Cathy Crenshaw Doheny
