Erythroid Hypoplasia Due to Chronic Infection with Parvovirus B19

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Abstract
Persistent parvovirus B19 infection has been described in patients with constitutional or acquired immunodeficiency.1 2 3 4 We report a relapsing course of erythroid hypoplasia due to parvovirus infection in an infant whose immunologic evaluation was normal. Gestation and delivery were normal. Transient respiratory distress developed and birth; routine blood counts did not show anemia. At the age of two months, the infant had an abrupt onset of severe anemia (hemoglobin, 30 g per liter) with reticulocytopenia (absolute reticulocyte count, 0). The spleen was enlarged. A bone marrow examination showed erythroid hypoplasia with scattered giant pronormoblasts. The leukocyte and thrombocyte counts were normal.