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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
      • Malaria
      • Leishmaniasis
  • Connective tissue disease
    • SLE
    • Amyloidosis
    • Sarcoidosis
  • Metabolic disease:
    • Niemann Pick disease
    • Gaucher’s disease

 

 History in hepatosplenomegaly

  • Presenting complaint
    • Abdominal swelling
  • History of presenting complaint
    • Abdominal pain
    • Bloating
    • Abnormal bruising/bleeding
    • Pruritus
    • Constitutional symptoms: weight loss, night sweats, fever
  • Past medical history
    • Previous EBV
  • Medications
    • Hepatotoxic 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

 

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Common hepatosplenomegaly exam questions for medical students, finals, OSCEs and MRCP PACES

 

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