The spelled contains nearly half of B lymphocytes producing immunoglobulins, and essential for production of opsonizing antibodies.
Opsonization is critical for clearance of encapsulated organisms.
Patients with asplenia at risk for postsplenectomy sepsis, a fulminant and often fatal process caused by infections normally cleared from the circulation by the spleen.
Encapsulated organisms are the most common causes of sepsis in asplenic patients, and include: Streptococcus pneumoniae, H. Influenza, and Neeisseria meningitis.
More than 50% of the cases of sepsis related to S. pneumoniae.