[Aplastic crises in hereditary spherocytosis]

Parvovirus B19-infections are diagnosed with increasing frequency. In addition to erythema infectiosum they cause a temporary red cell aplasia of 5-10 days duration, in patients with hemolytic anemia an aplastic crisis as demonstrated in 5 patients with hereditary spherocytosis. In every case an acute infection by parvovirus B19 could be diagnosed. Hemoglobin concentrations dropped to 4.0-6.2 g/dl, reticulocytes were diminished to 0-25,000/microliters. In every case there followed a complete recovery of erythropoiesis after 2-3 days.