PANCYTOPENIA: MEGALOBLASTIC ANEMIA IS STILL THE COMMONEST CAUSE

Objectives: to find out the frequency of the different causes of pancytopenia and also to specifically detect the percentage of vitamin b12 deficieny amongst these patients. methodology: it is a prospective study carried out in medical unit i (ward 5) of jinnah postgraduate medical centre karachi from march to august 2007. a total of 88 patients were included after a detailed history and examinations the information was recorded on proforma. findings of aspiration and trephine biopsies were interpreted in the light of history, clinical examination and peripheral blood findings. results: out of 88 patients suffering from pancytopenia, a large number (40.90%) were diagnosed as megaloblastic anemia, out of which 77.77 % had vitamin b12 deficiency. aplastic anemia was found in 28 (31.88%) patients followed by other less common causes. conclusion: megaloblastic anemia was found in largest number of patients who were found to have pancytopenia on initial investigations and majority of such patients were found to be deficient in vitamin b12.