Etiological profile of pancytopenia in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Background: Pancytopenia is a haematological entity characterized by anaemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia simultaneously. The causes of pancytopenia are diverse. The spectrum of different etiologies leading to pancytopenia vary globally, as well as within different geographical regions of the same country like India. Aims and objectives: To evaluate various causes of pancytopenia in patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital of Kashmir valley. Material and Methods: A total of 132 patients of pancytopenia over a period of 18 months were enrolled. Clinical history, relevant physical examination and primary haematological investigations followed by bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy was done in all patients. Results: Seventy four were males with fifty eight females in 132 studied patients. Male to female ratio was 1.3:1, with a mean age of 43.81 years. Commonest cause of pancytopenia was megaloblastic anaemia found in 96 patients (72.73%), followed by acute leukaemia in 9 patients (6.81%), multiple myeloma in 7 patients (5.3%), lymphoma in 5 patients (3.79%), aplastic anaemia in 4 patients (3.03%), myelodysplastic syndrome in 4 patients (3.03%), and tuberculosis in 4 patients (3.03%). There were 3 patients (2.27%) of pancytopenia due to drugs. Conclusion: Megaloblastic anaemia is commonest cause of pancytopenia, followed by acute leukaemia and multiple myeloma.