Haemogram pattern at diagnosis of malignant disorders and variations post-chemotherapy

A total of eighty patients with various malignancies seen between September 2008 and April 2009 at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, (UNTH) Ituku-Ozalla Enugu Nigeria had their haemogram values done at Days 0 and 12 of the first cycle of their various chemotherapeutic regimens. They were adult patients who had been diagnosed of various malignancies, consisting of Breast cancer 36 patients (45%), Non-Hodgkin's iymphoma 8 (10%), Hodgkin's lymphoma 13 (16.25%), Colorectal carcinoma 6 (7.5%), Multiple myeloma 7 (8.75%), Cervical carcinoma 1 (1.25%) and other malignancies 9 (11.25%). Haematological indices evaluated include: packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration; total white blood cell count, platelet count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The socio demographic data of the patients were assessed from a questionnaire. There were 27 males (33.75%) and 53 females (66.25%). The age of the patients ranged from 18-80 years with a median of 45 years. Haematological parameters which were found to be significantly reduced include: haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and total white cell count.