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- $Unique_ID{BRK03513}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Banti's Syndrome}
- $Subject{Banti's Syndrome Banti's Disease Hypersplenism Cirrhosis Gaucher
- Disease Felty Syndrome}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 722:
- Banti's Syndrome
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible that the main title of the article (Banti's Syndrome) is
- not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
- alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Banti's Disease
- Hypersplenism
-
- Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- Cirrhosis
- Gaucher Disease
- Felty Syndrome
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
-
- Banti's Syndrome is a disorder characterized by abnormal enlargement of
- the spleen resulting from a blood clot in the portal or splenic vein,
- narrowing of these veins, birth abnormalities or liver disease (cirrhosis).
-
- Symptoms
-
- In early stages of Banti's Syndrome, symptoms include weakness, fatigue,
- anemia and abnormal enlargement of the spleen. As the disorder progresses,
- the anemia becomes more severe. The anemia may be aggravated by a bleeding
- esophagus which in turn causes vomiting of blood and the passage of dark
- stools composed of decomposing blood. Ultimately the liver itself may become
- enlarged in some cases. The disorder follows a similar course to cirrhosis
- of the liver. However the spleen enlargement in Banti's Syndrome is the
- primary symptom.
-
- Causes
-
- Banti's Syndrome is caused by chronically increased pressure in the vein that
- carries blood away from the spleen. This increased pressure may result from
- cirrhosis of the liver, the presence of a blood clot in the portal or splenic
- vein, narrowing of these veins or birth abnormalities. The spleen then
- becomes enlarged due to the accumulation of blood that is unable to escape.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Banti's
- Syndrome. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
-
- Cirrhosis is a chronic progressive liver disorder. Symptoms can include
- an enlarged liver, fatigue, unexplained weight loss and a yellow
- discoloration of the skin (jaundice). (For more information on this
- disorder, choose "Primary Biliary Cirrhosis" as your search term in the Rare
- Disease Database).
-
- Gaucher Disease is an inherited metabolic disease caused by a failure to
- produce the enzyme glucocerebrosidase. It is the most common of the lipid
- storage disorders. Gaucher disease patients may have an enlarged spleen
- and/or liver, a low blood count and bone deterioration. (For more
- information on this disorder, choose "Gaucher Disease" as your search term in
- the Rare Disease Database).
-
- Felty Syndrome is a rare form of rheumatoid arthritis which affects the
- skin and spleen as well as the joints. Symptoms include a yellowish-brown
- discoloration of the skin, enlargement of the spleen, and joint stiffness.
- (For more information on this disorder, choose "Felty Syndrome" as your
- search term in the Rare Disease Database).
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Treatment of Banti's disease is dependent upon the cause. Blood flow through
- a narrowed vein or a vein blocked by a blood clot may be rerouted by a
- surgical shunt to bypass the obstruction. The treatment of cirrhosis depends
- upon the type and cause of the cirrhosis. An orphan drug for bleeding
- esophageal varices was approved by the FDA in 1988. The drug, Ethamolin, is
- manufactured by Glaxo pharmaceuticals.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- December 1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to
- keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and
- accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for
- the most current information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Banti's Syndrome, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
- Box NDDIC
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 468-6344
-
- References
-
- EVALUATION OF SPLENIC EMBOLIZATION IN PATIENTS WITH PORTAL HYPERTENSION AND
- HYPERSPLENISM. A. Alwmark et al.; ANN SURG (1982 Nov) 196(5). Pp. 518-245.
-
- THE MERCK MANUAL, Volume 1, 14th Ed.: Robert Berkow, M.D., ed.-in-chief;
- Merck, Sharp & Dohme Laboratories., 1982. Pp. 769.
-
-