Background: Functional hyposplenism is a recognized complication of several gastroenterological disorders, including coeliac and inflammatory bowel diseases, and is believed to contribute to the increased infection risk seen in these disorders.
Summary: The mechanisms of hyposplenism are poorly understood. In this article, we review possible mechanisms underlying development of functional hyposplenism and discuss implications for its management.
Key messages: Identifying functional hyposplenism is important, as it may permit earlier recognition and treatment of serious infections through patient education and vaccination.
Keywords: Coeliac disease; Hyposplenism; Inflammatory bowel disease; Spleen.
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.