title: Pattern of some haematological indices in newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Iwo, Nigeria: diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
abstract: Five hundred (500) newly diagnosed (ND) cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) were seen between January 1996 and December 1997 at Iwo, Osun State of Nigeria. They were treated with the regimen of 2 months of ethambutol (E), isoniazid (H), rifampicin (R) and pyrazinamide (Z) (2EHRZ) as directly observed treatment (DOT) followed by six months of daily thiacetazone(T) and isoniazid (6HT). The haematological indices PCV, WBC, ESR, platelet count and blood film were done (using standard methods) at diagnosis, and at 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 months of follow up. The average values were computed and noted. The average PCV rose from 28 to 38% at diagnosis and by the completion of the eight month of chemotherapy. The mean WBC also rose from 3.5 x 10(9)/L to 5.5 x 10(9)/L during the same period. The average ESR for 200 male patients fell progressively from 20 mm/hr to 10 mm/hr while that for 300 female patients fell progressively from 42 mm/hr to 20 mm/hr during the same period. The mean platelet counts did not change significantly from the initial value of 245 x 10(3)/cm throughout the treatment period. The blood film showed that 475 (95%) had normochromic picture while 25 (5%) cases showed anisocytosis, poikilocytosis and polychromasia. The pattern of changes of these parameters during medications have also been observed. Anaemia is not striking at diagnosis of newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Nigerians and the low grade anaemia of chronic disorder improves without the need for iron or folic acid supplementation. Possible reasons were given.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Respiratory Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, P.O. Box 29, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Dosumu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D011718:Pyrazinamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013828:Thioacetazone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D011718:Pyrazinamide; D004977:Ethambutol; D013828:Thioacetazone; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin