title: A case of parvovirus B19-induced pure red cell aplasia in a child following heart transplant.
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.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Paediatric Cardiology,Our Lady's Children's Hospital,Crumlin,Dublin,Ireland.
authors.forename: Eoin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Paediatric Haematology,Our Lady's Children's Hospital,Crumlin,Dublin,Ireland.
authors.forename: Corrina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Paediatric Cardiology,Our Lady's Children's Hospital,Crumlin,Dublin,Ireland.
authors.forename: Colin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McMahon
mesh_terms: D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012010:Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: red cell aplasia