Pancytopenia: a clinico-hematological cross-sectional study in asmara, eritrea

INTRODUCTION Pancytopenia is a hematological phenomenon that is a challenge in clinical practice. It is defined as a decrease in the three lines of blood cells – anemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. The criteria for definition of pancytopenia vary according to age and gender, reflecting the different normal values in each group. A commonly used cutoff in adults is hemoglobin level below 13.5 g/L for males and below 11.5 g/L for females; total leucocyte count below 4 × 10 9 /L; and platelet count below 150 × 10 9 /L. [1] In children the reference ranges that have been used in several studies are hemoglobin <10g/dL, total leucocyte count <4000/mm3 and platelets <100,000/mm3. [2]