[Transient erythroblastopenia in children: assessment of a hospital caseload]

Transient erythroblastopenia of childhood (TEC) is an acquired, self-limiting, uncommon disease, characterized by the temporary arrest of red cell production, resulting in moderate to several anemia. We retrospectively evaluated four cases of TEC, identified during an 8-year period of time in our Department of Pediatrics, including one patient, who developed TEC during the course of Kawasaki's syndrome. Clinical and hematological presentations of patients were analyzed and the most recent data of literature were reviewed. In conclusion, we suggest that a better knowledge of this rare and unique hematologic disorder of childhood may help make a correct diagnosis, avoiding unnecessary laboratory tests (e.g. bone marrow aspirate) and inappropriate therapeutic modalities.