[Parvovirus B19-induced aplastic crisis in a patient with iron deficiency anemia]

A 38-year-old female was referred to Takaoka City Hospital for treatment of common-cold-like symptom and an episode of transient unconsciousness. Physical examination on admission revealed severe anemia and an ejection heart murmur. Complete blood count revealed microcytic hypochromic anemia (Hb 4.1 g/dl), leukocytopenia (2.600/microliters), thrombocytopenia (7.1 x 10(4)/microliters) and reticulocytopenia (17,000/microliters). The bone marrow cellularity was within normal limits. Cells in the erythroid series were decreased to 5% of total bone marrow nucleated cells with maturation arrest at the level of proerythroblasts. Giant proerythroblasts were observed in 0.2% of marrow nucleated cells. No stainable iron was seen. Both anti-parvovirus B19 IgM antibody and IgG antibody were positive in the serum and parvovirus B19 DNA was detected in the bone marrow cells by polymerase chain reaction. From these results, iron deficiency anemia complicated with pure red cell aplasia secondary to parvovirus B19-induced infection was diagnosed. The anemia gradually improved with administration of sodium ferrous citrate one month after admission. Parvovirus B19 has been reported to cause an aplastic crisis in the patients who has a rapid red cell turn over such as hemolytic anemia or acute blood loss. This report suggested that severe aplastic crisis is also induced in patients with iron deficiency anemia by parvovirus B19-induced infection and warns that careful observation is necessary for the follow up of patients with iron deficiency anemia.