Causes of gross splenomegaly in adult sudanese patients

الملخص AR

Objectives : This study was performed in a group of Sudanese hospital patients in order to determine the causes of gross splenomegaly.

Methods : Adult patients with gross splenomegaly (palpable 10 cm or more below the left subcostal margin) admitted to the Khartoum Teaching Hospital in 1998 were included in this study.

All routine examinations and investigations of diseases characterized by gross splenomegaly were performed.

Results : Of the 95 cases of gross splenomegaly seen by the authors, 40 (42%) were due to bilharziasis; 23 (24%) were due to kala azar; 10 (10.5%) were due to liver cirrhosis; and in 9 cases (10%), the cause was hematological malignancies.

In 4 cases, (4.2%), the cause could not be determined.

Conclusion : Gross splenomegaly in hospitalized Sudanese patients is predominantly due to tropical diseases.

There is an urgent need to evaluate and implement effective control programs.