Immunological function was examined in children who had undergone
splenectomy, in 8 for
trauma, and in 11 for haematologic/oncologic reasons. Particular emphasis was placed on the effects of residual splenic tissue on immune function. Children in the elective group had no evidence of
splenosis but 6 of the 8
trauma patients showed residual splenic activity. A general trend indicated that immunological dysfunction was associated with the presence of residual splenic tissue. Three patients with significant post-traumatic
splenosis showed low
IgM levels, one also had a low
IgG level and another a low
IgA and impaired lymphocyte response to
mitogens. The
trauma patients with little or no splenic tissue had normal immune functions. Immunological abnormalities were found in 8 of the 11 haematologic/oncologic patients with no
splenosis suggesting the abnormalities were possibly due to the primary disease. In contrast to the popular belief that
splenosis confers protection against overwhelming
sepsis, the present findings suggest that patients with residual splenic tissue are at a greater risk of
infection because of a lower level of immune response.