A study on hematological profile in pulmonary tuberculosis in south rural part of Tamil Nadu.

Background: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in India. There is a paucity of literature on the hematological changes associated with tuberculosis, though tuberculosis is a common condition. Advances in the management of patients in terms of the diagnosis and treatment of hematologic malignancies and treatment-related complications, especially infectious complications, have increased survival time. However, more than half of the patients treated for hematologic malignancies will develop a pulmonary complication during their follow-up, with infectious pneumonia remaining the most common diagnosis that should be considered first regarding its potential severity. Otherwise, new complications that may involve different organs, including the lungs, have been increasingly reported. Currently, over a quarter of lung infiltrates occurring in the context of hematological diseases are due to noninfectious causes. Aim of the study: To evaluate the hematological parameters in patient with Ziehl Nelson smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Thoracic Medicine, Madras Medical College, Chennai from 2018-2019 (12 months). One hundred patients with sputum who were positive for acid-fast bacilli were included in the study. The various hematological manifestations in tuberculosis were studied using a hemogram by automated cell counter and peripheral smear examination. Results: Anemia was seen in 74% of patients. Despite the infection, 71 patients had a normal leukocyte count. Leukocytosis as a response to infection was observed in 26 patients. Thrombocytosis was observed in 24 patients while thrombocytopenia was observed in 9 patients. 99% of patients had increased ESR. Two patients had pancytopenia. Conclusions: Broad spectrum of hematological abnormalities has been demonstrated in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in the present study. While many of them are consistent with reported literature and reinforce the fact that they can be valuable tools in monitoring e.g. anemia and increased ESR, other findings such as thrombocytosis, pancytopenia suggest the need for further studies in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]