Tolerance of chemotherapy following splenectomy for leukopenia or thrombocytopenia in patients with malignant lymphomas

Abstract

Splenectomy was done in 11 patients with malignant lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia because of leukopenia or thrombocytopenia which prevented necessary chemotherapy. White cell counts rose to at least 5000 in all 8 patients who previously had had leukopenia. Similarly, platelet counts rose to at least 140,000 in 9 of the 11 patients who had had thrombocytopenia. These white cell and platelet responses were seen despite the presence of proven bone marrow involvement with malignant cells in 7 of the 11 patients. The tolerance to chemotherapy could be evaluated in 7 of the 9 patients whose peripheral counts responded to splenectomy. In 6 of these patients at least a moderate dose of chemotherapy could be given without severe depression of the white cell and platelet count for 2 months or longer.