Figure 2.

Different outcomes in splenectomized patients. Orange boxes: benefits of a fully functional spleen. Red boxes: summary of the changes that splenectomy exerts on the lipid profile and metabolism. Therapeutic/traumatic (total or partial) splenectomy provokes or aggravates specific pathophysiological processes. Blue boxes: risks associated to splenectomy. Overall, splenectomy leads to an increased susceptibility to infectious processes, with OPSI (overwhelming postsplenectomy infection) and sepsis being the fatal consequences. Increased EMH leads to an enhanced number of circulating leukocytes, mainly monocytes and neutrophils, which migrate to the atheroma plaque and trigger atherogenesis. EMH contributes to an increase in platelets, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), thrombi, endothelial damage and hypertension, favoring the development of cardiovascular (CV) diseases, such as thromboembolism and ischemic heart disease. LDL, low-density lipoprotein; LDLR, low-density lipoprotein receptor; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; anti-oxLDL, antibodies against oxidized LDL; TG, triglycerides; PL, phospholipids.