Clin Pediatr Hematol Oncol.  2012 Apr;19(1):44-48.

Parvovirus B19 Infection in a Child with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia during Maintenance Chemotherapy

• Sung KW
• Chang EJ
• Jang WJ
• Jeon IS

Abstract

Parvovirus B19 targets human erythroid progenitor cells, causing a self-limiting subclinical erythroid aplasia in the healthy hosts, whereas the immunocompromised subjects generate a prolonged viremia and chronic anemia with or without thrombocytopenia or neutropenia. The attenuated immune response in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), receiving chemotherapy, may generate the hematologic aberration which mimic a leukemia relapse or therapy-induced cytopenia. This mimicry may lead to the unnecessary examination and the recess of chemotherapy. If the anemia with or without thrombocytopenia or neutropenia is noticed during the chemotherapy of ALL, the parvovirus B19 infection should be considered as a cause of hematologic aberration. We report a case of parvovirus B19 infection confirmed by PCR in a child with ALL who was initially sero-negative (IgM and IgG) against parvovirus B19 to highlight the importance of alertness to the possibility of parvovirus B19 infection during chemotherapy.

Keyword

Parvovirus B19; Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Immunocompromised child

MeSH Terms

Anemia
Child
Erythroid Precursor Cells
Humans
Hydrazines
Leukemia
Maintenance Chemotherapy
Neutropenia
Parvovirus
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma
Recurrence
Thrombocytopenia
Viremia
Hydrazines