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B19 parvovirus-induced anemia in a normal child. Initial bone marrow erythroid hyperplasia and response to
J C Murray1, M V Gresik, F Leger
1Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Insights
Human parvovirus B19 can cause severe anemia. This case study shows a child with B19 parvovirus infection and initial erythroid hyperplasia, who recovered well with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Virology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Human parvovirus B19 is known to cause erythroid hypoplasia in individuals with pre-existing hemolytic anemias.
- Parvovirus B19 infection typically targets erythroid progenitor cells, leading to impaired red blood cell production.
Observation:
- A pediatric case presented with severe anemia attributed to parvovirus B19 infection.
- Initial bone marrow examination revealed erythroid hyperplasia, an atypical finding for parvovirus-induced anemia.
- The patient had no prior history of hematologic disorders.
Findings:
- The child experienced severe anemia following parvovirus B19 infection.
- Erythroid hyperplasia was observed in the bone marrow, contrasting with the usual hypoplasia.
- Hemoglobin levels rapidly improved after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).
Implications:
- This case highlights that parvovirus B19 can induce severe anemia even in children without underlying hematologic conditions.
- The initial erythroid hyperplasia suggests a complex or atypical host response to the virus.
- Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy demonstrated efficacy in treating parvovirus-induced anemia in this pediatric patient, supporting its use in similar cases.
Purpose:
Human B19 parvovirus infection may cause severe erythroid hypoplasia in patients with an underlying hemolytic anemia. We report a case of severe parvovirus-induced anemia with initial marrow erythroid hyperplasia in a child with no underlying hematologic disorder.
Conclusions:
The patient's rapid hemoglobin recovery after treatment with i.v. immunoglobulin further supports this form of therapy for children with parvovirus-induced anemia.