LIFE-THREATENING ANEMIA CAUSED BY B19 PARVOVIRUS INFECTION IN A NONIMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENT

A 21-year-old Surinam boy suffering from a combined heterozygous sickl e-cell P-thalassaemia presented with an extreme anaemia (haemoglobin c oncentration 0.7 mmol/l) and severe haemolysis without signs of increa sed erythropoiesis. An acute B19 parvovirus infection was diagnosed by a transient increase of IgM anti-B19 parvovirus titres and a positive polymerase chain reaction for B19 parvovirus, The patient recovered s pontaneously after a short period of supportive care with red cell tra nsfusions and mechanical ventilation.