Parvovirus B19 infects and destroys red cell precursors in the bone marrow. B19 has been shown to be the primary pathogen of transient aplastic crisis and erythema infectiosum, and associated with hydrops fetalis, arthritis, and chronic gradual
severe
anemia in immunocompromised patient. It has been suggested that children with acute leukemia on maintenance chemotherapy may be susceptible to B19 infection. We performed dot blot hybridization and polymerase chain reaction with plasma from 300
immunocompromised acute leukemic childen to survey B19 infection, After confirmation of B19 infection we studied clinical course, hematopoietic features, and laboratory finding by reviewing of the medical records.
Four patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia were diagnosed as having B19 infection. Bone marrow examinations revealed several findings severe erythroid hypoplasia, a variety of degrees of maturation arrest of erythropoiesis, mild
dyserythropoietic
features, and giant pronormoblasts with intranuclear inclusions. And so morphological observation of bone marrow aspiration and biopsy specimens can be helpful to detect B19 infection. Three patients were recovered from chronic B19 infection One
of
them
recovcred after cessation of chemotherapy and one after transfusion of whole blood and fresh frozen plasma.
Infusion of whole blood of blood component containing plasma as well as brief cessation of chemotherapy may control or cure chronic severe B19 infection And also it may be necessary that patients with acute leukemia showing severe refractile
anemia
should be screened for Parvovirus B19 infection.
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