CUTANEOUS HYPERPIGMENTATION IN MEGALOBLASTIC ANEMIA: A FIVE YEAR RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW.

Somanath Padhi; RajLaxmi Sarangi; Anita Ramdas; Kandasamy Ravichandran; Renu G’Boy Varghese; Thomas Alexander; George Kurien; Sudhagar Mookkappan

doi:10.4084/mjhid.2016.021

	CUTANEOUS HYPERPIGMENTATION IN MEGALOBLASTIC ANEMIA: A FIVE YEAR RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW. Somanath Padhi, RajLaxmi Sarangi, Anita Ramdas, Kandasamy Ravichandran, Renu G’Boy Varghese, Thomas Alexander, George Kurien, Sudhagar Mookkappan
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4084/mjhid.2016.021
Somanath Padhi Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, India \| somanath.padhi@gmail.com RajLaxmi Sarangi Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, India Anita Ramdas Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, India Kandasamy Ravichandran Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, India Renu G’Boy Varghese Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, India Thomas Alexander Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, India George Kurien Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, India Sudhagar Mookkappan Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, India
Abstract Background: Cutaneous hyperpigmentation is an often overlooked clinical sign in megaloblastic anemia (MA) which has been sporadically reported in the literature. Methods: We describe the bone marrow (BM) changes and clinicolaboaratory characteristics of 25 of 198 adult cases (>16 years) with cutaneous hyperpigmentation who underwent BM evaluation for cytopenia (s). Results: Twenty-one of 25 cases (84%) had MA, while MA without hyperpigmentation occurred only in 12 of remainder 173 cases (P<0.001). Knuckle pad hyperpigmentation (KP) was noted in 16 (64%) cases; whereas 9 (36%) had diffuse brownish black discoloration (DP) of the palms and /or soles. Eighteen of 25 (72%) cases had pancytopenia (13 with KP) and 7 of 25 (28%) had bicytopenia (3 with KP). In addition, five cases (20%) presented with pyrexia of unknown origin. Of the 17 cases where data available, eleven were B₁₂ deficient [<190 pg/ml; eight had severe deficiency (<100 pg/ml); ref.; 190-800pg/ml], while 4 had pure folate deficiency (< 4.0 ng/ml; ref.; 4-20ng/ml); and remainder 2 had combined B₁₂ and folate deficiency. Compared to those with diffuse pigmentation; KP group had lower Hb (69.6 ± 24.2 vs. 86.3 ± 33.9 g/L), higher MCV (106.1 ±12.6 vs. 99.2 ± 7.6 fL), lower platelet count (50.9 ± 29.3 vs. 69.6 ± 36.5 x 10⁹/L), and lower median B₁₂ [100.0 (30.0 – 822.0) vs. 316.0 (142.0 – 1617.3) pg/ml] (P>0.05). In six cases where follow-up data were available, there was significant reversal of hyperpigmentation at 12 weeks following parenteral cobalamine therapy. In all five cases with pyrexia, fever subsided after 24 to 72 hours following administration of parenteral cobalamine therapy. Conclusion: Cutaneous hyperpigmentation, pyrexia, and cytopenia (s) are strongly associated with megaloblastic anemia. Knuckle pad hyperpigmentation is much more common than diffuse pigmentation of the palms and/or soles in such patents. A nonsignificant trend towards a greater degree of MA was found in cases with pigmentation of the knuckles. Keywords Cutaneous hyperpigmentation, pyrexia, vitamin B12, megaloblastic anemia.
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