TRANSIENT ERYTHROBLASTOPENIA OF THE NEWBORN CAUSED BY HUMAN PARVOVIRUS

Purpose: We describe a newborn baby boy with anemia in whom human parv ovirus (HPV) antibodies were detected in his serum. Patients and Metho ds: Severe reticulocytopenia and anemia lasted until day 11 after his birth. Thereafter reticulocytosis was observed. Work-ups for immune he molytic anemia, fetomaternal hemorrhage, placental hemorrhage, intraut erine infections were negative by clinical and laboratory analysis. HP V-specific IgM and IgG were positive on both the baby's and the matern al serum. Results: Despite severe anemia, the baby remained clinically stable. His hemoglobin levels steadily increased along with ongoing r eticulocytosis. He is now 14 months old with normal hemoglobin. Conclu sions: Detection of HPV antibodies indicated its causal relation to th e development of congenital purl red cell aplasia. The possibility of HPV infection should be considered in the assessment of anemia of the newborn.