Bone marrow examination findings at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.

OBJECTIVE To establish the bone marrow examination findings and determine the indication for bone marrow examination. DESIGN A retrospective audit. SETTING Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. SUBJECTS All bone marrow aspirates done at Aga Khan University for the period comprising February 2003 to February 2006 were retrieved and analysed. RESULTS A total of 356 patient's case histories including bone marrow examination results were analysed. Ages of the patients ranged from 18 months to 91 years. Males were 180 (50.6%) and females were 176 (49.4%). Nutritional anaemia as a group was the most common haematological disorder found on bone marrow examination in our patients with megaloblastic anaemia predominating. Acute myeloid leukaemia was the most common malignant haematological disorder. The most common indication for bone marrow examination was anaemia followed by diagnostic work up of fever of unknown origin. CONCLUSION Nutritional anaemia predominated as the commonest benign haematological finding on bone marrow examination while acute myeloid leukaemia was the most frequent haematological malignancy. Most bone marrow examinations were performed on patients with anaemia.