A quantitative study of white pulp arterial vessels has been carried out in congestive splenomegaly with hypersplenism. Arteries and arterioles with periarterial lymphatic sheath (PALS) in abnormal spleens show an absolute volume and total length higher than in controls. Moreover, they present a luminal diameter significantly lower than normal. These findings demonstrate an increase of the white pulp arterial bed in congestive splenomegaly. Thus, the arteries with PALS participate in the complex vascular rearrangement which supports the blood hyperflow in congestive splenomegaly.

Hepatitis, Chronic↗

PubMed1984

Red pulp arterial terminals in congestive splenomegaly. A morphometric study.

A quantitative analysis of the red pulp arterial terminals (comprising arterioles = penicilli, arterial capillaries and sheathed capillaries) has been carried out in congestive splenomegaly occurring in active chronic hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis and idiopathic portal hypertension. Comparisons have been made with control spleens surgically removed for accidental trauma. Red pulp volume enlargement appears to be associated with a progressive lengthening of arterial terminals, which present a length density similar to that of normal spleens. Moreover, a different rearrangement of the various components of the arterial tree is present: in particular, the percent and absolute volumes of arterioles and arterial capillaries show a higher increase than those of sheathed capillaries. The present study points out the involvement of arterial terminals in the pathological rearrangement of the red pulp in congestive spleens, so supporting the hypothesis that splenomegaly does not result simply from passive congestion.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Hairy-cell leukemia complicating coeliac disease: report of a case and discussion of possible pathogenetic mechanisms.

10-28% of the patients with chronic coeliac disease develop a second malignancy, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, particularly of the histiocytic type, and adenocarcinomas. The second tumor may arise in the intestinal tract or in other organs. We describe here a patient who developed a tartrate-resistant, acid phosphatase-positive, hairy-cell leukemia after a history of chronic coeliac disease. In the literature, no similar case has been described as yet.

Celiac Disease↗