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Authors are the souls of any journal, and deserve much respect. To publish a journal manuscripts are needed from authors. Authors have a great responsibility for producing facts of their work in terms of number and results truthfully and an individual honesty is expected from authors in this regards. Both ways its true "No authors-No manuscripts-No journals" and "No journals–No manuscripts–No authors". Reviewing a manuscript is also a very responsible and important task of any peer-reviewed journal and to be taken seriously. It needs knowledge on the subject, sincerity, honesty and determination. Although the process of reviewing a manuscript is a time consuming task butit is expected to give one's best remarks within the time frame of the journal.
Salient features of the JCDR: It is a biomedical, multidisciplinary (including all medical and dental specialities), e-journal, with wide scope and extensive author support. At the same time, a free text of manuscript is available in HTML and PDF format. There is fast growing authorship and readership with JCDR as this can be judged by the number of articles published in it i e; in Feb 2007 of its first issue, it contained 5 articles only, and now in its recent volume published in April 2011, it contained 67 manuscripts. This e-journal is fulfilling the commitments and objectives sincerely, (as stated by Editor-in-chief in his preface to first edition) i e; to encourage physicians through the internet, especially from the developing countries who witness a spectrum of disease and acquire a wealth of knowledge to publish their experiences to benefit the medical community in patients care. I also feel that many of us have work of substance, newer ideas, adequate clinical materials but poor in medical writing and hesitation to submit the work and need help. JCDR provides authors help in this regards.
Timely publication of journal: Publication of manuscripts and bringing out the issue in time is one of the positive aspects of JCDR and is possible with strong support team in terms of peer reviewers, proof reading, language check, computer operators, etc. This is one of the great reasons for authors to submit their work with JCDR. Another best part of JCDR is "Online first Publications" facilities available for the authors. This facility not only provides the prompt publications of the manuscripts but at the same time also early availability of the manuscripts for the readers.
Indexation and online availability: Indexation transforms the journal in some sense from its local ownership to the worldwide professional community and to the public.JCDR is indexed with Embase & EMbiology, Google Scholar, Index Copernicus, Chemical Abstracts Service, Journal seek Database, Indian Science Abstracts, to name few of them. Manuscriptspublished in JCDR are available on major search engines ie; google, yahoo, msn.
In the era of fast growing newer technologies, and in computer and internet friendly environment the manuscripts preparation, submission, review, revision, etc and all can be done and checked with a click from all corer of the world, at any time. Of course there is always a scope for improvement in every field and none is perfect. To progress, one needs to identify the areas of one's weakness and to strengthen them.
It is well said that "happy beginning is half done" and it fits perfectly with JCDR. It has grown considerably and I feel it has already grown up from its infancy to adolescence, achieving the status of standard online e-journal form Indian continent since its inception in Feb 2007. This had been made possible due to the efforts and the hard work put in it. The way the JCDR is improving with every new volume, with good quality original manuscripts, makes it a quality journal for readers. I must thank and congratulate Dr Hemant Jain, Editor-in-Chief JCDR and his team for their sincere efforts, dedication, and determination for making JCDR a fast growing journal.
Every one of us: authors, reviewers, editors, and publisher are responsible for enhancing the stature of the journal. I wish for a great success for JCDR."
Thanking you
With sincere regards
Dr. Rajendra Kumar Ghritlaharey, M.S., M. Ch., FAIS
Associate Professor,
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Gandhi Medical College & Associated
Kamla Nehru & Hamidia Hospitals Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462 001 (India)
E-mail: drrajendrak1@rediffmail.com
On May 11,2011
Dr. Shankar P.R.
"On looking back through my Gmail archives after being requested by the journal to write a short editorial about my experiences of publishing with the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (JCDR), I came across an e-mail from Dr. Hemant Jain, Editor, in March 2007, which introduced the new electronic journal. The main features of the journal which were outlined in the e-mail were extensive author support, cash rewards, the peer review process, and other salient features of the journal.
Over a span of over four years, we (I and my colleagues) have published around 25 articles in the journal. In this editorial, I plan to briefly discuss my experiences of publishing with JCDR and the strengths of the journal and to finally address the areas for improvement.
My experiences of publishing with JCDR: Overall, my experiences of publishing withJCDR have been positive. The best point about the journal is that it responds to queries from the author. This may seem to be simple and not too much to ask for, but unfortunately, many journals in the subcontinent and from many developing countries do not respond or they respond with a long delay to the queries from the authors 1. The reasons could be many, including lack of optimal secretarial and other support. Another problem with many journals is the slowness of the review process. Editorial processing and peer review can take anywhere between a year to two years with some journals. Also, some journals do not keep the contributors informed about the progress of the review process. Due to the long review process, the articles can lose their relevance and topicality. A major benefit with JCDR is the timeliness and promptness of its response. In Dr Jain's e-mail which was sent to me in 2007, before the introduction of the Pre-publishing system, he had stated that he had received my submission and that he would get back to me within seven days and he did!
Most of the manuscripts are published within 3 to 4 months of their submission if they are found to be suitable after the review process. JCDR is published bimonthly and the accepted articles were usually published in the next issue. Recently, due to the increased volume of the submissions, the review process has become slower and it ?? Section can take from 4 to 6 months for the articles to be reviewed. The journal has an extensive author support system and it has recently introduced a paid expedited review process. The journal also mentions the average time for processing the manuscript under different submission systems - regular submission and expedited review.
Strengths of the journal: The journal has an online first facility in which the accepted manuscripts may be published on the website before being included in a regular issue of the journal. This cuts down the time between their acceptance and the publication. The journal is indexed in many databases, though not in PubMed. The editorial board should now take steps to index the journal in PubMed. The journal has a system of notifying readers through e-mail when a new issue is released. Also, the articles are available in both the HTML and the PDF formats. I especially like the new and colorful page format of the journal. Also, the access statistics of the articles are available. The prepublication and the manuscript tracking system are also helpful for the authors.
Areas for improvement: In certain cases, I felt that the peer review process of the manuscripts was not up to international standards and that it should be strengthened. Also, the number of manuscripts in an issue is high and it may be difficult for readers to go through all of them. The journal can consider tightening of the peer review process and increasing the quality standards for the acceptance of the manuscripts. I faced occasional problems with the online manuscript submission (Pre-publishing) system, which have to be addressed.
Overall, the publishing process with JCDR has been smooth, quick and relatively hassle free and I can recommend other authors to consider the journal as an outlet for their work."
Dr. P. Ravi Shankar
KIST Medical College, P.O. Box 14142, Kathmandu, Nepal.
E-mail: ravi.dr.shankar@gmail.com
On April 2011 Anuradha
Dear team JCDR, I would like to thank you for the very professional and polite service provided by everyone at JCDR. While i have been in the field of writing and editing for sometime, this has been my first attempt in publishing a scientific paper.Thank you for hand-holding me through the process.
Dr. Anuradha
E-mail: anuradha2nittur@gmail.com
On Jan 2020
Original article / research
Full Version
Burden of Anaemia and its Impact on Lymphoma Patients in Southern Rajasthan, India: A Cross-sectional Study
Correspondence Address :
Dr. Geeta W Mukhiya,
19, Ashirwad Nagar, Shobhagpura, Udaipur-313001, Rajasthan, India.
E-mail: mukhiyageeta@gmail.com
Introduction: The frequency of lymphoma is progressively rising. A key clinical feature of lymphoid malignancies is anaemia. The impact of anaemia goes beyond physical symptoms and can negatively affect functional capacity and Quality of Life (QoL). The presence of anaemia has been identified as a predictive factor for event-free and disease-free survival in patients diagnosed with lymphoma and is regarded as a significant unfavourable predictor for treatment results.
Aim: To investigate the prevalence and impact of anaemia in naive lymphoma patients.
Materials and Methods: This hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pathology at Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, from January 2019 to December 2022. A total of 66 patients diagnosed with lymphoid malignancies were included in the study. Various parameters of lymphoma cases were assessed to determine the presence of anaemia and its association with demographic features, disease stage, and haematological indices. Statistical analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 The Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to analyse the difference in the prevalence of anaemia in different groups.
Results: The mean age of the study patients was 47.35±20.60 years. The present study included 66 patients with lymphoid malignancies and revealed a high incidence of anaemia among them, with 38 (57.58%) cases presenting with anaemia. There was a male predominance, with 52 (78.79%) out of 66 patients male. Out of the total number of patients, 36 (54.55%) were classified as having stage I and stage II disease, while 30 (45.45%) had stage III and stage IV based on age, Ann Arbor staging, extranodal involvement, Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and lymphoma prognostic score. Differentiation between anaemic and non anaemic patients was made by statistical analysis. Based on the findings from the complete blood count, the patients were categorised according to the severity and type of anaemia. It was determined that 38 out of 66 patients, accounting for 57.58%, had anaemia.
Conclusion: Anaemia was more prevalent in younger patients and females. Microcytic hypochromic anaemia and Anaemia of Chronic Disease (ACD) were the most common types observed. Anaemia was associated with bone marrow infiltration and advanced disease stages. The present study emphasised the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate management of anaemia in lymphoma patients, as it can negatively impact treatment outcomes and reduce QoL.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Lymphoid malignancies, Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma
The frequency of lymphoma is progressively rising. The incidence of Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) has been on the rise in recent decades, and within the category of B-cell lymphomas, the most frequently diagnosed type is Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) (1). A key clinical feature of lymphoid malignancies is anaemia, as it is a significant consequential and frequent problem in these patients. Various studies have reflected the prevalence of anaemia, be it 26% in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), 49% in NHL, and 37.4% in Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL) during diagnosis in patients affected with these disorders (2),(3). The impact of anaemia goes beyond physical symptoms and can negatively affect functional capacity and QoL (4),(5). Furthermore, it is important to recognise that anaemia has been consistently linked to a negative prognosis and increased mortality rates (6),(7).
Anaemia is a significant adverse prognostic factor for the outcome of treatment, especially when there is bone marrow involvement. Furthermore, anaemia in patients with lymphoma can manifest with various symptoms including shortness of breath, cardiovascular complications, reduced performance status, impaired cognitive function, and fatigue. These symptoms can significantly impact the overall well-being and QoL of these individuals (8). The presence of anaemia has been identified as a predictive factor for event-free and disease-free survival in patients diagnosed with lymphoma. Moreover, persistent anaemia after chemotherapy is strongly associated with the risk of disease relapse (9),(10).
The development of anaemia in lymphoma patients is attributed to multiple mechanisms, which may occur in isolation or combination. These mechanisms comprise nutritional deficiencies, Anaemia of Chronic Disease (ACD), bone marrow infiltration, Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia (AIHA), and blood loss (11). It has been identified that several inflammatory mediators, including Interleukin 1 (IL-1), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), gamma interferon, and Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF), can hinder erythropoiesis. Increased levels of cytokines such as IL-6 are known to elevate hepcidin levels, leading to restricted iron absorption, resulting in ACD, which can manifest with characteristic symptoms (12),(13),(14).
According to a study conducted by Tisi MC et al., elevated IL-6 levels were identified as a significant factor contributing to the development of anaemia in patients with DLBCL. Anaemia in patients with lymphoma can also be attributed to abnormal iron utilisation, inappropriately low serum erythropoietin levels, and a decreased response of the bone marrow to erythropoietin, leading to impaired production of red blood cells (15). In various types of cancer, there is significant evidence that the systemic immune response of the host is an independent and reliable prognostic factor. ACD is the primary type of anaemia in lymphoma, which worsens the burden of the disease. Secondary anaemia due to marrow involvement, vitamin B12 deficiency, Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA), and haemolytic anaemia are also commonly observed in these patients (8). Severe anaemia in advanced stages is often associated with a poor prognosis, decreased survival rates, and diminished QoL (11),(16). In developing countries, a significant number of lymphoma patients are diagnosed with anaemia, often caused by bone marrow involvement, and are at advanced stages of the disease (8),(11).
The average life longevity and well-being of lymphoma affected patients can be improved by treating anaemia through the diagnosis of the type and severity of anaemia based on simple blood testing. Therefore, it is essential that anaemia is identified and treated in all lymphoma patients initially. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of anaemia in naive lymphoma patients and its association with haematological indices, disease stage, and demographic features.
A cross-sectional study was undertaken at the Department of Pathology at Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, spanning from January 2019 to December 2022. The study involved a total of 66 lymphoma patients based on tissue biopsy and Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Following approval from the Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC) (GU/HREC/EC/2022/2159), the study included patients who had accessible pretreatment tissue biopsies, marrow specimens, complete blood count data, and IHC results available.
Inclusion criteria: All biopsy samples of lymphoma patients that were received by the pathology department throughout the designated study period were included in the study.
Exclusion criteria: Patients with impaired kidney function (serum creatinine >2 mg/dL), individuals who had undergone blood transfusions or received iron, folic acid, or vitamin B complex supplements within the preceding two weeks, patients with relapsed disease, and those who had received prior treatment were excluded from the study.
Study Procedure
In patients with a confirmed diagnosis of lymphoma, various parameters including demographic features, complete haemogram, red cell indices {such as Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Red blood cell Distribution Width (RDW)}, reticulocyte count, Direct Coombs Test (DCT), biochemistry (including renal and liver function tests, LDH, iron profile, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), ferritin, vitamin B12, folic acid, erythropoietin levels), and bone marrow aspirate/biopsy were assessed to determine the presence of anaemia and other relevant parameters. The assessment was made by comparing the obtained values with the age-specific normal ranges as described in the 10th edition of Practical Haematology by Lewis SM et al., (17). The peripheral blood film for diagnostic purposes was stained using Leishman stain, and a manual differential count was conducted for each patient. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), anaemia is defined as mild when Haemoglobin (Hb) levels are between 11.0-12.9 g/dL for men and 11.0-11.9 g/dL for women, moderate (Hb level 8-10.9 g/dL), and severe when Hb level is less than 8 g/dL (18). Vitamin B12 deficiency was defined as serum B12 levels below 160 pg/mL, and folate deficiency was defined as folate levels below 3 ng/dL (17). The presence of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) was determined by a positive DCT along with evidence of haemolysis observed on the peripheral smear (such as spherocytosis, agglutination, or polychromasia).
In all cases, relevant tissue biopsy slides stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin stain (H&E), as well as IHC interpretation, were carefully examined by an expert pathologist. The categorisation of lymphoma according to WHO classification was determined based on the IHC findings using immature and mature B and T cell markers like Cluster of Differentiation 34 (CD34), Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase (TdT), CD3, CD5, CD10, CD23, CD43, CD103, BCL6, Sig, cIg, Multiple Myeloma oncogene-1 (MUM1), Cyclin D1, etc., (Table/Fig 1),(Table/Fig 2),(Table/Fig 3),(Table/Fig 4),(Table/Fig 5),(Table/Fig 6) (19).
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS software version 20.0. (Chicago, IL, USA). Continuous variables were stated as mean±Standard Deviation (SD), and categorical variables were computed as frequencies (n) and percentages (%). The frequency of anaemia was calculated using the simple prevalence formula as the number of patients in each diagnosis divided by the total number of cases. The Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to analyse the difference in the prevalence of anaemia in different groups.
A total of 66 patients diagnosed with lymphoid malignancies were included in the study conducted during the designated period. The average age of the patients was 47.35±20.60 years. Out of the total 66 patients, 44 patients (66.67%) were below the age of 60 years, while 22 patients (33.33%) were 60 years or older. In terms of gender distribution, there was a male predominance, with 52 out of 66 patients (78.79%) being male. Among all the 66 patients, 36 (54.55%) were classified as having stage I and II disease, while 30 (45.45%) had higher stages, i.e., stage III and IV.
Based on the findings from the complete haemogram, the patients were categorised according to the severity of anaemia. Among the 66 lymphoma patients, it was determined that 38 of them, accounting for 57.58%, had anaemia based on their Hb levels. The Hb levels of the lymphoma patients ranged from 4.3 g/dL to 15.9 g/dL, with an average of 10.85±2.70 (mean±SD). Out of the total 66 patients, seven patients (10.66%) had mild anaemia, 26 patients (39.4%) had moderate anaemia, and 5 patients (7.6%) had severe anaemia, while 28 patients (44.42%) did not have anaemia (Table/Fig 7).
Upon further analysis, it was observed that the incidence of anaemia was higher in females, with 9 (64.29%) out of 14 female patients being anaemic, compared to 29 (55.77%) out of 52 male patients. This indicates a higher prevalence of anaemia among females (Table/Fig 8).
Furthermore, upon analysing the results, it was found that anaemia was more prevalent among younger patients (age <60 years) compared to older patients (age >60 years). Among the participants, 44 (66.67%) patients in the younger age group experienced anaemia, whereas 22 (33.33%) in the older age group were affected by anaemia. The bivariate Chi-square test was conducted, and the results are presented in (Table/Fig 8). The analysis revealed that anaemic lymphoma patients did not show a statistically significant association with age (p=0.860), sex (p=0.789), Ann Arbor stage (p=0.375), abnormal platelet count (p=0.827), or absolute lymphocyte count less than 600/mm3 (p=0.837). Significant differences were noted in the levels of Hb between lymphoma patients with and without anaemia (p<0.001).
There was variability in the grading of anaemia across all types of lymphoma as shown in (Table/Fig 7). Microcytic hypochromic anaemia was identified as the leading cause of anaemia in the present study, observed in 17 cases (44.74%), followed by anaemia of chronic disorder in 13 cases (34.21%). Dimorphic anaemia and purely megaloblastic anaemia accounted for 6 (15.79%) cases and 2 cases (5.26%), respectively. In 42.42% of patients, the Hb levels were within the normal range, indicating the absence of anaemia. Among the 66 patients, 13 showed malignant lymphoma cell infiltration in the bone marrow. Out of these 13 patients, only 8 (61.54%) had moderate anaemia, while the remaining patients did not have any type of anaemia (Table/Fig 9). In the present study, majority of the patients were diagnosed with DLBCL 34 (51.52%), and more than 50% of them exhibited varying degrees of anaemia (55.88%). Among the patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, all of them presented with different degrees of anaemia, as indicated in (Table/Fig 9).
Patients with advanced International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores exhibited anaemia in 73.33% of patients. In the present study, authors found that anaemia was present in all cases of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL), Burkitt Lymphoma (BL), HL, and Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Additionally, a relatively high prevalence of anaemia, i.e., 55.88%, was observed in DLBCL cases (Table/Fig 8),(Table/Fig 9).
Anaemia is a common issue among cancer patients, particularly prevalent among those with lymphoma. Evidence suggests that in lymphoma patients, anaemia is a significant prognostic factor that can negatively impact therapy outcomes and increase mortality rates (6),(7),(11). In addition to affecting survival, anaemia can significantly reduce the QoL in these patients, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, cardiovascular complications, cognitive impairment, and a decline in overall performance status. In the present study, a high incidence of anaemia (57.58%) among patients with lymphoid malignancies were observed. Anaemia was more frequently observed in women compared to men (64.2% vs 55.7%) (20). Finding of the current study may be attributed to the higher prevalence of anaemia among women in the general population.
The present study showed the prevalence of anaemia in patients with DLBCL and HL was 55.8% and 100%, respectively. Similar findings have been reported by others, with anaemia rates ranging from 32% to 49% in NHL and a prevalence of 37.4% in HL (3),(6),(21),(22). In addition to its impact on survival and poor prognosis, anaemia also significantly compromises the QoL of patients. A survey conducted by the European Cancer Anaemia Survey (ECAS) revealed that nearly 39% of lymphoma patients enrolled in the study had anaemia. Interestingly, a relatively low percentage (47.3%) of anaemic patients in the survey received treatment for their anaemia, highlighting the crucial importance of early identification and appropriate management of anaemia in lymphoma patients (7),(23).
In the present study, out of the total 66 lymphoma patients, more than half of them (38 cases, 57.58%) presented with anaemia. This prevalence of anaemia is slightly higher than the findings reported by Yasmeen T et al., from Pakistan and Ghosh J et al., from India, who observed a prevalence of 42.4% and 45%, respectively (8),(11). Similarly, other authors such as Moullet I and Morrow TJ et al., reported prevalence rates of 32% and 35.3% (6),(24). These variations in prevalence may be attributed to factors such as socioeconomic conditions and accessibility to healthcare. The presence of untreated anaemia among a significant proportion of the population can have a considerable impact on their overall health status. The present study demonstrated a higher incidence of lymphoma in males, with 52 cases (78.79%), compared to females with 14 cases (21.21%). This finding aligns with a previous study conducted by Bukhari U et al., which also reported a higher incidence of lymphoma in males (69%) compared to females (31%) (25). Interestingly, despite the higher incidence of lymphoma and a larger male population in present study, anaemia was more common in females. This observation may be attributed to menstrual blood loss experienced by young females in the reproductive age group (11),(24). In lymphoma patients, anaemia can arise from various factors occurring simultaneously. The most prevalent cause of anaemia in the present study was microcytic hypochromic anaemia resulting from iron deficiency, accounting for 17 cases, 44.74% of cases. This finding contrasts with the results of a study conducted by Yasmeen T et al., in which anaemia of chronic disorder was identified as the predominant cause of anaemia (8). These variations in findings may be attributed to differences in patient populations and the underlying characteristics of the disease.
Anaemia of chronic disorder observed in 13 cases, 34.21% of lymphoma patients in present study, emerged as the second most common cause of anaemia. The development of this type of anaemia in lymphoma patients may be attributed to mechanisms such as increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, impaired production of erythropoietin, and bone marrow erythroid hypoplasia, resulting in decreased red cell survival. These findings are consistent with those of a separate study, reinforcing the understanding of anaemia in the context of lymphoma (6),(26),(27).
In the present study, a significant association between the presence of anaemia in lymphoma patients and a high prognostic score was noted. (p=0.034). This finding aligns with the results of a study conducted by Hardianti MS et al., suggesting a consistent relationship between anaemia occurrence and prognostic scores in lymphoma patients (28). The systemic circulation of lymphoma patients may exhibit increased production of IL-6, which in turn stimulates the overproduction of hepcidin. Increased levels of hepcidin can lead to the retention of iron in macrophages and iron-absorbing enterocytes, as well as hinder the release of iron from the reticuloendothelial system and liver. This process can result in the sequestration of iron and contribute to the development of iron-deficiency anaemia. In the present study, 44.74% of patients with iron-deficiency anaemia was found (14),(29).
Hohaus S et al., conducted a study involving patients older than 45 years of age and observed higher levels of hepcidin associated with anaemia (14). However, in the present study, authors did not find a significant impact of age on the occurrence of anaemia in lymphoma patients. Interestingly, anaemia was more frequently observed in younger patients compared to older patients, which aligns with the findings of a previous study involving DLBCL patients that also found no association between the age group above 60 years and anaemia (p=0.860). In the present study, there was no significant correlation found between the presence of extranodal involvement and multiple extranodal sites with the incidence of anaemia in lymphoma patients (p=0.992). This finding indicates that these factors may not play a significant role in contributing to the development of anaemia in lymphoma patients, as observed in the present study. These findings align with the results reported by Hardianti MS et al., and Guney N et al., (28),(30).
Furthermore, our study did not reveal a significant correlation between anaemia and abnormal platelet count (either low <150×109/L or elevated >450×109/L) (p=0.827). This contrasts with the findings of Hardianti MS et al., who found a significant association between anaemia and abnormal platelet count (28). In the present study, lymphocytopenia was evident in a minority of patients (4 cases; 6.06%). However, we did not observe a significant correlation between lymphocyte count and the presence of anaemia. This finding diverges from the results reported by Hardianti MS et al., and Ray-Coquard I et al., who identified lymphocytopenia as a protective factor against anaemia in lymphoma (28),(31). It is worth noting that the lack of agreement in findings may be attributed to the limited sample size in the present study.
Limitation(s)
The study was conducted at a single centre, which could introduce referral bias and limit the generalisability of the findings to the broader population. As it was a retrospective study, not all patients underwent the necessary tests to fully characterise the underlying cause of anaemia, particularly in terms of assessing the haemolytic profile.
The findings of the present study highlights the significant prevalence and impact of anaemia in newly diagnosed lymphoma patients. The presence of anaemia not only signifies a poor prognosis and reduced survival but also negatively affects the patient’s QoL. It is crucial to promptly identify, investigate, and treat anaemia in all lymphoma patients upon presentation. To further enhance our understanding and improve patient outcomes in lymphoma, future research should focus on predicting and addressing the causes of anaemia, including examining cytokine levels that contribute to its pathogenesis. Given the multifactorial nature of anaemia in patients with lymphoid malignancies, a thorough investigation of its underlying causes is essential for effective management. Moreover, careful monitoring of lymphoma patients is warranted to ensure timely intervention and optimal management of anaemia. By effectively addressing anaemia, the overall management of lymphoma can be enhanced and provide better care, particularly for anaemic patients.
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2023/66170.18666
Date of Submission: Jul 10, 2023
Date of Peer Review: Aug 15, 2023
Date of Acceptance: Oct 04, 2023
Date of Publishing: Nov 01, 2023
AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? Yes
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? Yes
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA
PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS:
• Plagiarism X-checker: Jul 11, 2023
• Manual Googling: Aug 17, 2023
• iThenticate Software: Oct 02, 2023 (13%)
ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin
EMENDATIONS: 8
- Emerging Sources Citation Index (Web of Science, thomsonreuters)
- Index Copernicus ICV 2017: 134.54
- Academic Search Complete Database
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- HINARI Access to Research in Health Programme
- Indian Science Abstracts (ISA)
- Journal seek Database
- Popline (reproductive health literature)
- www.omnimedicalsearch.com