RESUMEN
Introduction: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition. Nowadays, hospitals rely on laboratory parameters like CRP and procalcitonin to detect sepsis. There is a need to evaluate and validate more accurate and early predictors of sepsis in critically ill patients. We analyzed volume, conductivity, and scatter (VCS) parameters of leukocytes in sepsis patients and compared them with the control group with no illness. Materials and methods: It was a prospective case-control study. A total of 80 patients were studied with 40 sepsis cases and 40 controls. Peripheral smear examination was done in all the cases. Other parameters, such as WBC count, neutrophil%, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), High-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), procalcitonin, and blood cultures were analyzed. We took the data of the patients from medical records and correlated it with other tests. Complete blood picture reports were generated by the Beckman Coulter LH series (LH 750 and 780). VCS parameters for neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes were compared between both groups. The results were analyzed using SPSS software (16.0 version). Results: The age group was 20-85 years with male predominance. The mean neutrophil volume (MNV) and mean monocyte volume (MMV) were higher in the sepsis group when compared with the control group. The mean neutrophil conductivity and scatter was lower in the sepsis group and comparatively higher in the control group, but it was insignificant. The mean neutrophil volume values were higher in the sepsis group even with low total leukocyte count (TLC) when the patient had sepsis. There is no change in the mean lymphocyte VCS parameter and mean monocyte conductivity, scatter in both the groups. Conclusion: The mean neutrophil volume and MMV are found to be good sensitive markers in the prediction of sepsis. Even when TLC is on the lower side in patients with sepsis, these parameters predict sepsis accurately. This helps clinicians to assess sepsis in patients at an early stage and has an important practical implication. How to cite this article: Goyal H, Singhal A, Joseph M. Utility of VCS Parameters as a Cost-effective and Early Marker of Sepsis: A Hospital-based Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(9):647-650.
RESUMEN
Pancytopenia is defined as decrease in red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Many disease processes involve the bone marrow primarily or secondarily resulting in pancytopenia. A 55-year-old male presented with generalized body weakness and few episodes of malena for last one year. Physical and systemic examination was unremarkable. CBC report revealed pancytopenia. Other haematological parameters were within normal limit. Stool for occult blood was positive. USG and CECT abdomen showed no abnormality. The patient was evaluated for any evidence of malignancy but no clue was found. Bone marrow examination was done as patient was having pancytopenia. Bone marrow smears, clot sections and bone marrow biopsy was normal. Immunohistochemistry and cytogenetics study was unremarkable. Patient was admitted in hospital for 1 month and his condition rapidly deteriorated. The cause of pancytopenia remained unexplained and therefore it was named as Idiopathic fatal pancytopenia. "Idiopathic Fatal Pancytopenia (IFP)" is an emerging new entity with a grave prognosis. We wish to sensitize the medical community and the scientists to this rapidly fatal condition.