Sex and splenectomy in agnogenic myeloid metaplasia.

The available data of 338 cases of splenectomy in agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (AMM) published since 1940 were retrieved from the literature and analysed. There were no marked differences between male and female patients as to their survival since splenectomy, since the time of diagnosis or since the onset of the manifestations of AMM. Cardiac and thromboembolic complications caused death in 26% of the male patients, but only in 16% of the females, while hemorrhage and infections were more common causes of death among women. Leukemia developed in 11% of the males and in 6% of the female patients.