Immunocompetence after incidental splenectomy.

Of 377 patients with chronic duodenal ulcer undergoing highly selective vagotomy, 13 were splenectomized peroperatively because of capsular tear. 12 of these patients were alive at the time of the subsequent investigation and each was matched with a non-splenectomized patient. The postoperative interval was almost 5 years (median). The splenectomized patients were characterized by their longer hospitalization, and increased blood counts of lymphocytes, monocytes and platelets. Analysis of lymphocyte subsets revealed increased numbers of both T and B lymphocytes after splenectomy Among the T cells, those with receptors for Fc of IgG were significantly more numerous in the splenectomized group. It is a matter of controversy whether or not this population contains T suppressor cells. Hence further functional investigations are needed to clarify whether our observations bear any relation to the low level of plasma IgM found by us and others in splenectomized individuals. Screening for complement activation by the classical and alternative pathways did not reveal any defects resulting from splenectomy.