Haematological Profiles of Patients with Extra-pulmonary Tuberculosis

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We aimed to evaluate the complete blood count (CBC) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of confirmed extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) patients attending clinic at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu. A total of 90 confirmed extra-pulmonary tuberculosis patients consisting of male (n = 38) and female (n = 52), aged 15 to 60 years attending clinic participated in this study. CBC and ESR were analysed using Haematological Auto Analyzer and Westergren method respectively. Haemoglobin and haematocrit values across the three age groups (15-30, 31-45, 46-60 years) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the control value in both male and female extra-pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood count, platelet and neutrophil values across the three were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the control values in both male and female extra-pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis was observed more in females than the males and was relatively higher in older patients (above 46 years) than younger patients (below 46 years). This study was able to show that different haematological parameters such as haemoglobin, haematocrit, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood count, platelet and neutrophil could serve as hallmark and help in early diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.