Hepatosplenomegaly
Aetiology of hepatosplenomegaly
- Chronic liver disease and portal hypertension
- (see chronic liver disease section for further differentials)
- Haematological disease:
- Leukaemias
- Lymphomas
- Myelofibrosis
- Myeloproliferative disease
- Essential thrombocytopenia, polycythaemia, primary myelofibrosis, CML
- Haemolytic anaemias
- Hb disorders: Thalassaemia, sickle cell disease (eventually leads to splenic atrophy)
- Red cell structure: Spherocytosis/elliptocytosis
- Enzyme: G6PD deficiency, pyruvate kinase deficiency
- Infection:
- Acute viral hepatitis
- EBV, CMV
- Foreign/tropical
- Connective tissue disease
- SLE
- Amyloidosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Metabolic disease:
- Niemann Pick disease
- Gaucher’s disease
History in hepatosplenomegaly
- Presenting complaint
- History of presenting complaint
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Abnormal bruising/bleeding
- Pruritus
- Constitutional symptoms: weight loss, night sweats, fever
- Past medical history
- Medications
- Family history
- Malignancy
- Connective tissue disease
- Metabolic disorders
- Social history
- Travel history
- Alcohol consumption
- Smoking
Examination of hepatosplenomegaly
- Hepatosplenomegaly
- Signs of chronic liver disease
- Lymphadenopathy
- Anaemia
Initial investigation of hepatosplenomegaly
Common hepatosplenomegaly exam questions for medical students, finals, OSCEs and MRCP PACES
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