The 4 criteria for diagnosing hypersplenism, according to Dameshek in 1955, are detailed below:
Hypersplenism Diagnostic Criteria
Hypersplenism is diagnosed based on a set of specific conditions. The presence of these four criteria strongly suggests hypersplenism. These are:
- Monolineage or Multilineage Peripheral Cytopenias: This means a decrease in one or more types of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets) in the circulating blood.
- Compensatory Hyperplasia of Bone Marrow: The bone marrow increases its production of blood cells to compensate for the peripheral cytopenias. This increased activity is called hyperplasia.
- Splenomegaly: Enlargement of the spleen.
- Correction of Cytopenias After Splenectomy: The blood cell counts improve (cytopenias are corrected) after the spleen is surgically removed.
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Peripheral Cytopenias | A decrease in one or more blood cell types in the blood (e.g., anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia). |
| Bone Marrow Hyperplasia | Increased production of blood cells in the bone marrow to compensate for the cell loss in the periphery. |
| Splenomegaly | Enlargement of the spleen, which can be detected through physical examination or imaging studies. |
| Post-Splenectomy Cytopenia Fix | Improvement in blood cell counts after the spleen is surgically removed, indicating that the spleen was contributing to the cytopenias. |
