HEMATOLOGICAL STUDY OF MACROCYTIC ANEMIA: STUDY AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Introduction: Anemia is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions in a health care set up. Iron deciency anemia is the predominant cause of anemia across countries and in both sexes (1,2) . Although, in approximately 2 to 4 % of patients, laboratory evidence of macrocytosis is found (3) .The cause of macrocytic anemia is classied into megaloblastic or non-megaloblastic (4). Common causes of macrocytosis are different by region and setting. The present study aims at studying patients admitted in Civil Hospital Ahmedabad during the study period with MCV value more than 100 fL and utilizing the clinical prole and other biochemical parameters to further classify anemia into Megaloblastic and NonMegaloblastic type. The study period is January 1, 2018 to July 31, 2019. Relevant medical Materials and Methods: history of the patients participating in the study was considered. MCV value was determined from complete hemogram which was performed using Automatic Hematological Analyser. Peripheral smear examination was done with slides stained in Giemsa stain. Biochemical tests were performed using Automated Biochemistry Analysers. The data obtained from the above was then utilized in establishing the incidence of various causes of macrocytic anemia in our study population. Result: Out of the total 325 patients 160 (49%) were found to have megaloblastic anemia and 128 patients (40%) were found to have non-megaloblastic anemia. In the remaining 37 (11%) patients, no cause of macrocytosis was identied. The etiologies of macrocytic anemia identied in the present study were Vitamin B12 deciency, hepatic dysfunction, hypothyroidism, renal dysfunction and accelerated erythropoiesis (due to hemolysis or blood loss). Conclusion: The most common cause of macrocytic anemia in our study population was found to be Megaloblastic anemia.