Parvovirus B19 infection presenting with neutropenia and thrombocytopenia: Three case reports

Parvovirus B19 (PV) infection is usually symptomless and can cause benign, short-lived conditions. Anemia associated with PRCA is the most representative hematologic manifestation, but neutropenia and thrombocytopenia have been rarely reported.

Three patients were admitted to the hospital with neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. The accompanying symptoms were fever, myalgia, rash, or arthralgia, and all patients were previously healthy.

Patients were positive for PV PCR and diagnosed with PV infection. Before the diagnosis of PV infection, 2 patients underwent BM study and almost absence of erythroid progenitor cells in BM aspiration were a clue for the PV infection. Other BM findings were hypocellular marrow and a few hemophagocytic histiocytes.

Patients received supportive care with follow-up of CBC.

All 3 patients spontaneously recovered from neutropenia and thrombocytopenia within 3 weeks without severe complications.

The evaluation of PV infection should be considered in situations where there is neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in healthy individuals even without anemia as a differential diagnosis.