Aplastic and hypoplastic episodes in sickle cell disease and thalassaemia intermedia

Aplastic and hypoplastic crises are well recognised complications of sickle cell disease. Recent evidence has shown that most of these crises are caused by parvovirus infection. Five cases of aplastic or hypoplastic crises in patients born and living in this country were studied. Three patients had clear evidence of parvovirus infection, while in two evidence of parvovirus infection was lacking. One patient had evidence of concurrent parvovirus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Recurrent crises may occur, and reticulocyte monitoring during infection in patients with chronic haemolytic states is therefore important.