PANCYTOPENIA WITH HYPOCELLULAR BONE-MARROW DUE TO MILIARY TUBERCULOSIS - AN UNUSUAL PRESENTATION

In a patient who presented with fever, weight loss and abdominal swell ing, blood counts revealed pancytopenia. Broad-spectrum empirical anti biotic treatment was started because of neutropenic fever, but without effect. The bone marrow was hypocellular with an increase in fat drop lets. Peritoneoscopy was performed to evaluate ascites; in the liver b iopsy specimen caseous granulomas were seen and the patient was found to suffer from miliary tuberculosis. Antituberculous therapy was begun and the patient recovered completely and the haematological parameter s returned to normal.