Human parvovirus infection and aplastic crisis in hereditary spherocytosis

Abstract

Parvovirus B19 is usually associated with an acute, self-limiting disease. In patients with congenital haemolytic anaemia, infection with this virus can cause an aplastic crisis. Most cases of aplastic crises associated with parvovirus B19 in patients with hereditary spherocytosis have been reported in children and adolescents. We describe an aplastic crisis due to parvovirus in a 36-year-old man and his 7-year-old son with asymptomatic hereditary spherocytosis.

Keywords

• aplastic crisis
• parvovirus b19
• hereditary spherocytosis