Acute erythroblastopenia due to Parvovirus B19 in hemoglobinopathies: a retrospective case series at Ibn Sina Hospital, Rabat, Morocco.

Abstract

This study describes the clinical and hematological characteristics of acute erythroblastopenia induced by Parvovirus B19 in patients with underlying hemoglobinopathies. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 53 patients with confirmed Parvovirus B19 infection, among whom 10 pediatric cases met the criteria for acute erythroblastopenia, defined by hemoglobin <6 g/dL and reticulocytopenia <20x10⁹/L. Among 53 patients with confirmed Parvovirus B19 infection, 10 pediatric cases (18.9%) met the criteria for acute erythroblastopenia. All cases occurred in children with various hemoglobinopathies: sickle cell disease (3 cases), S/beta-thalassemia (1 case), hemoglobin C disease (2 cases), and hereditary spherocytosis (2 cases), while two patients had no identified hemoglobinopathy. The mean hemoglobin was 5.13 ± 1.66 g/dL, with profound reticulocytopenia. Multi-lineage involvement occurred in 20% (n=2/10) of cases. Bone marrow examination showed variable erythroblast percentages (1-47%). Recovery time ranged from 6 to 35 days, with the longest recovery observed in sickle cell patients. Parvovirus B19 causes severe erythroblastopenic crises in children with hemoglobinopathies, particularly in sickle cell disease, where the clinical impact is most pronounced.