PARVOVIRUS B19-INDUCED ANEMIA

Parvovirus B19, the agent of erythema infectiosum, selectively infects erythroid precursors, inducing aplastic anemia not only in patients w ith inherited red blood cell disorders but also in individuals with no rmal red blood cells. Two cases of parvovirus-induced anemia diagnosed in unusual circumstances are reported herein. One was a 37-year-old f emale in whom the parvovirus infection led to discovery of congenital spherocytosis. The second patient, a 30-year-old female, developed ane mia while she was recovering from an episode of leukoneutropenia possi bly due to a drug. These two cases demonstrate that parvovirus infecti on should be routinely looked for inpatients with anemia of unclear et iology.