Parvovirus B19-Associated Anemia in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Experience

Parvovirus B19 (PVB19) has tropism to red blood cell progenitors and can be reactivated after organ transplantation. The aim of study was to describe clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatments used, and effectiveness in kidney recipients at Viet Duc hospital. A retrospective descriptive study was performed on 663 kidney recipients who were on regular follow-up from 2000 to 2018. PVB19 was detected by polymerase chain reaction PVB19-DNA. Effectiveness of therapy was assessed by Hemoglobin level. Nine out of 663 kidney recipients (1.4%) were diagnosed with PVB19-associated anemia. Eight of these 9 (89%) were diagnosed within the first 3 months following transplantation. All patients had normoscopic anemia; the average reticulocyte proportion and count were 0.15 ± 0.04% and 0.0039 ± 0.0011T/L, respectively. Graft dysfunction was observed in 4/9 (45%) patients. Treatment included reduction of immunosuppression, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and blood transfusion. All patients responded well to treatment except 1 (11%), who experienced relapse after using low dose of IVIG. PVB19-associated anemia usually occurred early after transplantation and was associated with very low reticulocyte proportion and count. Actual treatment was effective, but the risk of relapse was present.