Clinico-aetiological and Demographic Profile of Pancytopenia among Children in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Northern Part of West Bengal- A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Pancytopenia is a trio of results caused by numerous medical conditions in which all blood cell lineages, such as leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets, are diminished in blood. Causes of pancytopenia seem to vary widely in different country and also in different regions within a country. Knowing common cause and common presentation of pancytopenia is of immense importance to determine the diagnosis, especially in resource-constraint areas. Aim: To assess the aetiology, clinical profile of pancytopenia in a tertiary hospital in northern part of West Bengal. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based, cross-sectional, study was conducted in North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Sushrutanagar, West Bengal, India, from July 2012 to June 2013. Patients having pancytopenia, on primary haematological investigation, admitted in the Paediatric Department of the hospital were included in the study. Patients already on definitive treatment for disease causing pancytopenia like kala-azar, leukaemia were excluded from the study. A physical examination was performed after obtaining a relevant clinical history, followed by a full blood count, including Peripheral Blood Smear (PBS) examination, and appropriate biochemical assays. An aspiration and evaluation of the bone marrow was performed. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 16.0 for windows (SPSS 16) was used. Results: There were 50 children, and the mean age of presentation was 7.3 years. Females constituted 52% and males were 48%. Aplastic anaemia was noted in 44% cases, 30% cases were diagnosed as megaloblastic anaemia, kala-azar in 18%, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in 6% and Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) in 2%, respectively. Mean age of presentation in aplastic anaemia was 7.6 years, while that in megaloblastic anaemia was 6.9 years. Female predominance was seen in both aplastic anaemia (59%) and megaloblastic anaemia (60%), while male preponderance was seen in ALL (66%). Generalised weakness was the most prevalent presenting symptom (100%) followed by fever (80%). Pallor (100%) was the most prevalent presenting sign, followed by glossitis (30%), which is commonly ignored. Conclusion: Though aplastic anaemia is an important cause of pancytopenia, treatable causes like megaloblastic anaemia, kala-azar should always be looked for as other possible aetiologies for pancytopenia.

Keywords

• aplastic anaemia
• megaloblastic anaemia
• pallor