International Journal of Medical Laboratory Research (IJMLR)

CLINICO HEMATOLOGICAL STUDY OF PANCYTOPENIA IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTER: A ONE-YEAR EXPERIENCE

 

 Richa Garg,

 Assistant Professor, Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

                               

Abstract: Background: Pancytopenia, characterized by the reduction of all three blood cell lines (red cells, white cells, and platelets), can result from a variety of conditions ranging from transient marrow suppression due to infections to serious diseases such as leukemia. Accurate etiological diagnosis is crucial for targeted treatment and prognosis. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and hematological profile of pancytopenic patients in a tertiary care hospital in North India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional comparative prospective study was conducted over one year (June 2015 to May 2016) at the Department of Pathology, Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad, UttarPradesh. Detailed clinical histories, physical examinations, and hematological parameters, including bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, were recorded for pancytopenic patients. In total, bone marrow aspirations were performed on 27 patients and biopsies on 6 patients. Results: A total of 104 pancytopenic cases were studied. The most common cause was megaloblastic anemia (40 cases), followed by mixed nutritional anemia (24 cases). Other causes included iron deficiency anemia (4 cases), dengue infection (4 cases), multiple myeloma (2 cases), and metastatic carcinoma (3 cases). Less common causes included tropical splenomegaly, myelodysplastic syndrome, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, aleukemic leukemia, hemophagocytosis, leishmaniasis, and ITP, with one case each. Conclusion: Pancytopenia is a common hematological problem encountered in clinical practice. A thorough clinical and hematological workup, including bone marrow studies, is essential for early diagnosis and management.

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Keywords: pancytopenia, etiology, bone marrow biopsy, megaloblastic anemia