Comparative evaluation of pancytopenia/bicytopenia in adult and pediatric population in a tertiary care centre through hematological parameters and bone marrow studies

Introduction: Pancytopenia/bicytopenia is not a disease per se rather a spectrum of changes pertaining to reduction in cell numbers. Its presentation as well as causes are diverse in adult and pediatric population. It is imperative to evaluate the causes of pancytopenia/bicytopenia in adults and pediatric subjects as well as to understand the significant differences in their etiology and manifestations. Aims and objectives: Comparative evaluation of pancytopenia/bicytopenia in adult and pediatric patients through hematological parameters and bone marrow studies. Materials and Methods: In this study, 80 adult and 40 pediatric patients of pancytopenia/bicytopenia were evaluated. Detailed history, examination, Hb, TLC, platelet count, MCV, PBS examination, Bone marrow studies were performed. Statistical analysis was done using one-way anova. Result: The commonest presenting age in children was between 12-16 years of age and 19-40 years in adults. Male to female ratio in adults was 1.94:1, while that of pediatric patients was 1:0.74. On bone marrow examination, most common cause of pancytopenia/bicytopenia among pediatric subjects was aplastic anemia (32.5%) followed by megaloblastic anemia(20%), acute leukemia (17.5%) , erythroid hyperplasia (15%). Megaloblastic anemia was the commonest cause of pancytopenia/bicytopenia among adult cases (37.5%) followed by erythroid hyperplasia (20%) and aplastic anemia (10%). Conclusion: Our study concludes that there is statistically significant difference between the values of Hb, TLC, Platelet and MCV among adult and pediatric patients of pancytopenia; implying that these hematologic parameters vary with respect to mean values and range between the two groups. We also conclude nutritional deficiency to be a common cause of pancytopenia in both the age groups.