A prospective study among cases of the pancytopenia on the basis of clinic-hematological analysis and bone marrow aspiration

Background: Pancytopenia is consequence of many haematological condition with an extensive differential diagnosis. A prompt intervention is required to avoid complications. The severity and the underlying pathology determines the management and prognosis. Present study was conducted to assess the etiology, clinical profile and bone marrow morphology of pancytopenia.Methods: A prospective study was carried out among 50 consecutive patients with pancytopenia. Blood samples of the patients were analyzed for complete blood count and peripheral smear along with presence and absence of immature cells and abnormal cells. In bone marrow examination, morphology of all cells lineage, cellularity, parasite and abnormal cells were scrutinized. Trephine biopsy was done if indicated. Special investigations were done to confirm the diagnosis.Results: Among the 50 cases studied, age of the patients ranged from 1 to 70 years with a slight male predominance. Most common age group 11-20 years. Most of the patients presented with generalized weakness and fever. The commonest physical finding was pallor, followed by splenomegaly and hepatomegaly. The commonest marrow finding was hyper cellularity with megaloblastic erythropoiesis. The commonest cause for pancytopenia was megaloblastic anemia.Conclusions: The present study concludes that hematological investigations along with other supportive tests are helpful to diagnose or to rule out the causes of pancytopenia. Megaloblastic anemia is commonest cause of pancytopenia in most Indian and subcontinent studies. Substantial number of patients had reversible etiology. Hence complete work up including clinical details with hematological examination along with bone marrow study will lead to early and proper diagnosis and management.