Frequency of Different Types of Anemia in Patients of Rheumatoid Arthritis presenting to a Tertiary Care Hospital

Muhammad Zain Abideen; Amer Fakhr; Minahil Nadeem; Hafiz Asad Saeed; Muhammad Hammad; Muhammad Ansar

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v75i3.9032

Authors

Muhammad Zain Abideen Department of Medicine, Pak-Emirates Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Amer Fakhr Department of Medicine, Pak-Emirates Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Minahil Nadeem Department of Medicine, Rifah International Hospital, Islamabad Pakistan
Hafiz Asad Saeed Department of Medicine, Pak-Emirates Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Muhammad Hammad Department of Medicine, Pak-Emirates Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Muhammad Ansar Department of Medicine, Pak-Emirates Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v75i3.9032

Keywords:

Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Cytopenia, Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Abstract

Objective: To study the frequency of different types of anemia in patients of rheumatoid arthritis.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Rheumatology, Pak-Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan from Oct 2021 to Mar 2022.

Methodology: One hundred and thirty-nine individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis were included in the study and frequency of different types of anemia was assessed. Red cell indices (RBC count, MCV, MCH, MCHC), total leucocyte count (TLC), platelet count (PLT), serum ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP) were entered for all patients. B12 and folate was only ordered and followed up in cases with high MCV. Anemia was defined as a Hb ˂12 g/dL for women and ˂13 g/dL for men.

Results: Mean age of participants was 48.61±1 2.5 years, female majority (61.9%). Different type of anemias seen in patients with RA included Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) being the most common (43.2%), followed by anemia of chronic disease (ACD, 28.8%). Megaloblastic anemia due to vit B12/folate deficiency was observed in 11.5% of patients. In 11(7.9%) subjects, IDA combined with ACD was seen. Treatment-induced cytopenia was found in 5.8% of patients, while in 2.9% of respondents the cause of anemia was not to be found.

Conclusion: Iron Deficiency anemia was the most commonly seen anemia type (43.2%) followed by anemia of chronic disease (28.8%), megaloblastic anemia (11.5%) and combined IDA and anemia of chronic disease (7.9%) in our study.

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