ABSTRACT
Anaemia is a disease of low erythrocyte count and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration less than the normal range. The main causes of anaemia are a decrease in RBCs, their destruction and decrease of Hb synthesis. A useful method for diagnosis and classification of anaemias is based on the morphological appearance of RBCs on an ideal stained blood smear. The main terms used in such classification are normocytic normochromic, microcytic hypochromic and macrocytic anaemia. In general, microcytic hypochromic anaemias are caused by reduced haemoglobin synthesis (most commonly because of iron deficiency), while macrocytic anaemias caused by reduced DNA synthesis that impair the maturation of erythroid precursors in the bone marrow. Normocytic normochromic anaemias have diverse aetiologies; in some of these anaemias, specific abnormalities of red cell size and shape which is best appreciated through visual inspection of peripheral smears provide an important clue as to cause.METHODSRetrospectively and prospectively we evaluated the results of complete blood count (CBC) and peripheral blood picture (PBP) of all anaemic patients attending during the year 2018 (from 1st January to 31st December), in the Department of Pathology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal (M.P.).RESULTSOut of a total of 500 patients, 220 were males and 280 were females. Results of CBC and PBP showed that 145 (29%), 275 (55%) and 80 (18%) of the patients had normocytic normochromic, microcytic hypochromic and macrocytic pattern of anaemia respectively.CONCLUSIONSThe microcytic hypochromic pattern of anaemia is highly frequent among this sample of patients while the macrocytic pattern of anaemia is the lowest. According to gender groups, microcytic hypochromic pattern of anaemia is more common among females; malnutrition, increase of blood loss due to pregnancy or menstruation, and lack of iron absorption are the main causes, while the normocytic normochromic anaemia is highly prevalent among males, which is mainly due to blood loss or chronic diseases.