Double Deficiency Anemia as a Major Cause of Cytopenias in Patients of Chronic Liver Disease

Background: Chronic Liver disease with cytopenias is common in our set-up. Various causes of cytopenias include double deficiency anemia, iron deficiency, megaloblastic anemia, aplastic anemia and splenic sequestration. Aim: To determine the frequency of double deficiency anemia as a major cause of cytopenias in adult pts of CLD Settings and Study design: A cross sectional study was carried out in Pathology Department, KEMU, on 210 patients of CLD from May2014 to May 2016. Methodology: Complete blood count was done, peripheral smears made and bone marrow evaluation was done for patients suffering from cytopenias. Results: Mean age of the patients was 43.4 +/- 12.73years.164 patients (78.1%) were found to have cytopenias whereas 46(21.9%) patients had no haematological abnormality. In patients suffering from cytopenias, 67(55.8%) patients had combined iron deficiency and megaloblastic anemia. Megaloblastic anemia was found in 8(4.9%) patients. Iron deficiency anemia in 17(10.3%) patients and hypoplastic anemia in 2(1.2%) patients. Hypersplenism was revealed in 126 patients (76.7%). Conclusion: Double deficiency anemia remains the preventable cause of cytopenias. Prevention of this state will lead to overcoming or delaying the misery and complications related to this disease.