A number of viral, bacterial and parasitic infections can cause the spleen to enlarge; some of the most common are mononucleosis, endocarditis, syphilis, and malaria. Liver disease such as cirrhosis can also cause an enlarged spleen, as it increases pressure in the vein that supplies the organ's blood. Other causes include cancers such as lymphoma, leukemia, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Hemolytic anemia—a condition in which the body destroys red blood cells faster than it makes them—may also be responsible in some cases.

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