Clinico-Etiological and Clinico-Haematological Study of Patients with Pancytopenia in Rural Area
Authors: Karamchedu Shilpa , Pramod Kumar Reddy M , Fatima Rasheed , Chaturya Kalanidhi P , Baseer Shafaq , Kadali Sunada , Sagarika D , Nightingale Florence , Suresh K 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Background
Pancytopenia is a manifestation of other underlying conditions, commonly associated with multiple benign and malignant conditions. Any patient presenting with pancytopenia requires a thorough evaluation to identify the underlying aetiology.

Aim
This current evaluates various hematological parameters including bone marrow aspiration (where ever feasible) in pancytopenia in adult group. Study also correlates clinico-haematological profile.

Method
Fifty patients with a hematological diagnosis of pancytopenia were studied during the period August 2020 to August 2022. The study included adult patients of both sexes having the age of 18 years and above. Tests for complete blood count, reticulocyte count, peripheral smear, bone marrow aspiration, and trephine biopsy were done.

Results
Various etiological factors were identified in which majority were of megaloblastic anaemia (48.9%), followed by mixed nutritional anaemia (22.2%), hypersplenism (13.3%), aplastic anaemia (8.9%), malignant conditions (6.7%), myelodysplastic syndromes (2%), and others (4%) respectively. Megaloblastic anaemia cases observed in the age group of 31–50 years with male preponderance. Hemoglobin, TLC, Platelet count, and Reticulocyte count ranged from 2 g% - 10g%, 500–4000 cells/cumm, 24,000–1.5 lakh cells/cumm, and 0.1% – 2%. MCV was higher than 100 fl in 57.5% of cases. Majority of the patients had macrocytic and dimorphic anaemia. Hypersegmented neutrophils were present in all the patients. Bone marrow of Megaloblastic anaemia was hypercellular. Megaloblastic erythropoiesis with giant meta- myelocytes and band forms were seen. Nutritional anaemia seen in the age group of 51-60 years. Haemoglobin, TLC, Platelet count, and Reticulocyte count ranges from 2.3 g%–7.8 g%, 1000–4000 cells/cumm, 5000–1.4 lakh cells/cumm, and 0.1–8%. Two cases had microcytic hypochromic anaemia in Nutritional anaemia. Bone marrow was hypercellular with a reversal of M:E ratio in 93.8% of cases. In hypersplenism seen in the age group of 51–60 years. Haemoglobin, TLC, Platelet count, and Reticulocyte count ranges from 3.8 g% – 10 g%, 1700–3800 cells/cumm, 26000-1.4 lakh cells/cumm, and 0.6–2% respectilvey in hypersplenism. 40% of hypersplenism patients had microcytic hypochromic anaemia. Bone marrow was hypercellular with a reversal of M:E ratio in 70% of hypersplenism cases. Aplastic anaemia seen in the age group of 41–50 years. Haemoglobin, TLC, Platelet count, and Reticulocyte count ranges from 3.1–10 g%, 1100–4000 cells/cumm, 51000–1.5lakh cells/cumm, and 0.2%–1.8%. Aplastic anaemia (35.8%) cases showed macrocytosis. Bone marrow was hypocellular with an increase in marrow fat and Lymphocytes and plasma cells were prominent in Aplastic anaemia cases. Leukaemia commonly seen in the age group of 31–40 years with male predominance. Hemoglobin, TLC, and Reticulocyte count ranges from 5.1–9.8%, 1100–4000 cells/cumm, and 0.6–2% respectively. Bone marrow was hypercellular with a reversal of M:E ratio in 80%.

Conclusion
Megaloblastic anaemia was the commonest cause of pancytopenia. Most other studies have reported aplastic anaemia as the commonest cause. This seems to reflect the higher prevalence of nutritional anaemia in the Indian subjects. The haematological parameters and bone marrow morphological features in patients with megaloblastic anaemia, aplastic anaemia, and malignant diseases including MDS in the present study were comparable to the findings by other authors. Uncommon etiological factors like dengue fever and hemolytic anaemia were identified in this study. A comprehensive clinical, haematological, and bone marrow study of patients with pancytopenia usually helps in identification of the underlying cause. However, in view of a wide array of etiological factors, pancytopenia continues to be a challenge for hematologists.