• cystic fibrosis
• partial splenectomy
• portal hypertension
• splenomegaly

Our recently published article on partial splenectomy in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with hypersplenism¹ appeared with a commentary by colleagues from the Birmingham Children’s Hospital.²

The authors of this commentary rightfully point out that liver disease in CF may have a widely varying symptomatology ranging from portal hypertension, bleeding oesophageal varices, ascites, to splenomegaly with hypersplenism. While the quoted clinical experience of 200 patients with CF liver disease might be considered as substantial, it nevertheless appears unjustified to rush from that experience to the statement that severe hypersplenism, requiring a specific surgical approach, is not a feature of the discussed disease spectrum. In the equally substantial clinical experience …