POST SPLENECTOMY ASSESSMENT OF IMMUNITY AGAINST INFECTION IN NORMAL AND PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Abstract

Because of the central position in the bloodstream and the large blood supply of about 5 % of the blood volume per minute, the spleen represents an important meeting point between antigenic information

transported by the blood and the immune system. Two major critical functions of the spleen can be recognized: it serves as a large phagocytic filter and it is a major antibody-producing organ.

The spleen shares actively in both humoral and cell-mediated immunity, as it has a significant role in the fromation of specific immune responses namely antiliodies (Immunoglobulins), clearance of particulate antigens and enhancement of phagocytosis.

Also splenectomy is still useful procedure for the relief of

discomfort of large spleen and for cases with hypersplenism. • Many comparative studies had concluded a significant

immunological deficiency that follows splenectomy especially in children including depression of immunoglobulins, complement system activity, properdin and tuftsin and hence the opsonic activity of the sera.

As a part of reticulo-endothelial system along with the liver, it acts as a clearance mechanism for blood born organisms. Splenic macrophages play . an important role in phagocytosis of certain particulate antigens. They remove encapsulated as well as unencapsulated bacteria and prove more important as a defense mechanism when the site of bacterial invasion is through the blood stream. Both type of lymphocytes, the B-cells and T-cells was found in the spleen which also stimulate the manufacture of IgM antibodies and shares in the rapid elaboration of specific opsonizing antibodies against