PARVOVIRUS B19 INFECTION AND DIAMOND-BLACKFAN ANEMIA

It is the purpose of the study to report the frequency of parvovirus i n children with a diagnosis of Diamond-Blackfan anaemia and to discuss the possible aetiological role of parvovirus in Diamond-Blackfan anae mia. We found parvovirus DNA in 3 of 11 bone marrow smears. Giant pron ormoblasts showed low sensitivity (33%) and poor specificity (75%). Th e presence of giant pronormoblasts was associated with a very high mye loid:erythroid ratio, and may not be specific for parvovirus infection , but a feature of severely suppressed erythropoiesis. The three parvo virus-positive patients were the only children who experienced a remis sion, and who are free of medication. The seven surviving parvovirus-n egative patients are all currently on steroid treatment.