Diagnosis Of The Severely Anaemic Patients Using The Bone Marrow Aspiration Biopsy Technique

Abstract

Objective:To highlight the usefulness of bone marrow aspiration in the diagnosis of severely anaemic patients. Methods:Fifty two patients, 26 males and 26 females aged 16 to 40 years were drawn from the wards and clinics of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin. The criteria for inclusion in the study were unexplained anaemia; suspicion of leukaemia and aplastic anaemia. Patients with easily diagnosable haemoglobinopathies such as HbSS were excluded from the study. Bone marrow aspirated from either the patients' anterior or posterior superior iliac spine were stained and examined. Smears were fixed in alcohol, stained with Leishman stain and examined under the microscope. Pearl's stain for haemosiderin was used to confirm presence of iron in the marrow. Results:The smears were suggestive of acute myeloblastic leukaemia in 21 out of 52 patients or 40.4%; acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 10 out of 52 patients or 19.2%; and megaloblastic anaemia in 5 patients or 9.6%. Hypocellularity was confirmed in 15 (28.9%) patients. Conclusion:It is concluded that bone marrow aspiration with the Klime-Salah needle is a practical and cheap technique for the diagnosis of the severely anaemic patient. Key Words: Severe Anaemia, Bone Marrow Aspiration, Diagnostic Biopsy Orient Journal of Medicine Vol.15(3&4) 2003: 19-22