Hypersequestration of 51Cr-labelled erythrocytes as a criterion for splenectomy in regular hemodialysis patients.

The splenic uptake of 51Cr-labelled autologous erythrocytes was studied by body surface counting in 20 hemodialysis patients. Evidence for splenic hypersequestration of erythrocytes was obtained in 7 patients. Splenectomy was performed in 6 of these and led to a reduction in transfusion requirements. One patient without evidence of splenic hypersequestration of red cells was also subjected to splenectomy but was not improved. The importance of following the splenic uptake of 51Cr for a sufficiently long time to detect a delayed uptake of 51Cr is pointed out.