Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T09:17:08.980Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A case of parvovirus B19-induced pure red cell aplasia in a child following heart transplant

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2014

Eoin Kelleher
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
Corrina McMahon
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Haematology, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
Colin J. McMahon*
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
*
Correspondence to: Dr C. J. McMahon, FRCPI, Cardiac Department, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland; Tel: +01 4096160; Fax: +01 4096181; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

We describe a case of an 11-year-old boy who underwent orthotopic heart transplant for dilated cardiomyopathy. He developed a normocytic, normochromic anaemia with a low reticulocyte count 1 month after transplant. A bone marrow biopsy was performed, which showed a mildly hypocellular bone marrow with few red blood cell precursors with giant pro-erythroblasts indicative of a pure red cell aplasia. Parvovirus B19 polymerase chain reaction in the blood was positive 2 months after transplant. Intravenous immunoglobulin administration resulted in a resolution of the anaemia over several months. Unexplained pure red cell aplasia in immunosuppressed patients should alert one to the possibility of parvovirus B19 infection.

Type
Brief Reports
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Gregoor, PS, Weimar, W. Tacrolimus and pure red-cell aplasia. Am J Transplant 2005; 5: 195196.Google Scholar
2. Nosari, A, Marbello, L, DeCarlis, LG, et al. Bone marrow hypoplasia complicating tacrolimus (FK506) therapy. Int J Hematol 2004; 79: 130132.Google Scholar
3. Wong, TY, Chan, PK, Leung, CB, Szeto, CC, Tam, JS, Li, PK. Parvovirus B19 infection causing red cell aplasia in renal transplantation on tacrolimus. Am J Kidney Dis 1999; 34: 11321136.Google Scholar
4. Fong, CY, Kaplan, ZS. Parvovirus B19-induced pure red cell aplasia in a heart transplant recipient. Blood 2012; 120: 3395.Google Scholar
5. Brown, KE, Young, NS. Parvovirus B19 infection and hematopoiesis. Blood Rev 1995; 9: 176182.Google Scholar
6. Frickhofen, N, Chen, ZJ, Young, NS, Cohen, BJ, Heimpel, H, Abkowitz, JL. Parvovirus B19 as a cause of acquired chronic pure red cell aplasia. British J Haematol 1994; 87: 818824.Google Scholar
7. Amiot, L, Langanay, T, Drenou, B, et al. Spontaneous recovery from severe parvovirus B19 pure red cell aplasia in a heart transplant recipient as demonstrated by marrow culture. Hematol Cell Ther 1998; 40: 7173.Google Scholar
8. Crabol, Y, Terrier, B, Rozenberg, F, et al. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for pure red cell aplasia related to human parvovirus B19 infection: a retrospective study of 10 patients and review of the literature. Clin Infect Dis 2013; 56: 968977.Google Scholar