HEPATITIS-ASSOCIATED APLASTIC-ANEMIA AND ACUTE PARVOVIRUS B19 INFECTION - A REPORT OF 2 CASES AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia is rare in general, but occurs in up to 28% of patients receiving liver transplantation for fulminant n on-A, non-B hepatitis. Cases are commonly young men with mild hepatiti s but severe aplastic anemia. Although cases have been reported in ass ociation with hepatitis A, B, and C, most appear to be due to a non-li -B-C virus. We report two cases of acute hepatitis subsequently compli cated by marrow hypoplasia in patients with acute parvovirus B19 infec tion. Hepatic manifestations of parvovirus B19 infection range from li ver chemistry abnormalities to fulminant hepatic failure and aplastic anemia. Our cases demonstrate a less severe form of hepatitis-associat ed aplastic anemia, and together with other data, suggest that parvovi rus B19 is at least one cause of hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia, and may be a heretofore underrecognized hepatotrophic virus. (C) 1998 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology.