MEGALOBLASTIC ANEMIA IN ADULTS WITH NEW-ONSET PANCYTOPENIA ON PERIPHERAL SMEAR

Objectives: To determine the frequency of megaloblastic anemia in patients with a new onset of pancytopenia on peripheral smear. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from 1st February 2021 to 31st July 2021.  A total of 109 patients participated in the study after fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Patients with pancytopenia on peripheral smear underwent bone marrow biopsy. Megaloblastic anemia as the cause of pancytopenia was confirmed after bone marrow biopsy reports were available. The results were stratified into tables based on study participants’ demographics. Data was analyzed by SPSS 23 and presented in tables. Results: Megaloblastic anemia was observed in 42.2% of patients presenting with pancytopenia on peripheral smear. 66.1% of these were male and 33.9% were female. Conclusion: A large number of patients with pancytopenia on initial investigations were diagnosed to be suffering from megaloblastic anemia in our study. Keywords: Pancytopenia; Megaloblastic anemia; Peripheral smear; Bone marrow biopsy