title: Transient erythroblastopenia of childhood: prospective study of 10 patients with special reference to viral infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been proposed that human parvovirus B19 or human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) causes transient erythroblastopenia of childhood (TEC). This study was performed prospectively and accurately in a sufficiently large population to confirm or reject these suggestions, or possibly to find another causative agent for TEC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors studied prospectively the causative aspects of 10 consecutive children with TEC presenting at five Swedish pediatric clinics from 1994 to 1998 using serologic assays and polymerase chain reaction assays for B19, HHV-6, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The authors also performed isolation investigations of virus from bone marrow, stools, and aspirate from the nasopharynx.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors found acute EBV infection in one child. There were no other instances of IgM positivity for any viruses at presentation, but a few children did show IgG positivity to HHV-6 (n = 2), EBV (n = 1), and cytomegalovirus (n = 1). No children were positive with respect to IgG for B19. However, it could not be determined when these children had been infected, and thus, a connection to TEC cannot be proved or excluded. No child showed B19 or HHV-6 DNA in serum or bone marrow collected at presentation. Isolation of virus from bone marrow, stools, and aspirate from nasopharynx culture was negative in all children but one, who had rotavirus in stool.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HHV-6, B19, EBV, and cytomegalovirus are not common causative agents of TEC. The authors found no proof of any single agent causing TEC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Orebro Medical Center Hospital, Orebro, Sweden. gunnar.skeppner@telia.com
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Skeppner
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kreuger
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Elinder
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000821:virology*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000821:virology; D004900:Erythroblasts / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000821:virology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000821:virology; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007136:Immunoglobulins