Clinico-Haematological Profile of Megaloblastic Anaemia

Abstract

Introduction: Megaloblastic anaemia is one of the important causes of anaemias. It is a macrocytic anaemia resulting from abnormal maturation of hematopoietic cells due to faulty DNA synthesis. Two vitamins, cyanocobalamin (vitaminB12) and folic acid are essential for DNA biosynthesis. Deficiency of either vitamin results in abnormal nuclear maturation with normal cytoplasmic maturation, apoptosis, ineffective erythropoiesis, intramedullary haemolysis, pancytopenia and typical morphological abnormalities in blood and marrow cells.

Methods: This descriptive study was carried out for two and a half years (July 2011 to December 2013) in the department of Pathology, Star hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. Out of 885 anaemic patients 55 diagnosed as megaloblastic anaemia were included in the study. Complete blood count, reticulocyte count, peripheral smear and bone marrow examination were performed. Serum vitamin B12 and folic acid estimation was done in 32 cases.

Results: Out of 55 cases of megaloblastic anaemia, 31 were female and 24 were male with a female to male ratio of 1.3:1. Age range was 18 to 80 years. Pallor was the predominant clinical finding in these cases. Twenty cases (36.36%) presented with only anaemia while others presented with pancytopenia or bicytopenia. Of the 55 cases of megaloblastic anaemia,32 had assays done for cobalamin and folate, of which 15 (46.88%) had cobalamin deficiency, 4 (12.5%) had folate deficiency and 13 (40.62%) had combined deficiency.

Conclusion: Megaloblastic anaemia can present with varied clinical manifestations. Strong suspicion of megaloblastic anaemia should be entertained by clinicians to improve clinical outcome. Prompt diagnosis is important as it is a completely curable condition.