Erythroid crisis caused by parvovirus B19 transmitted via red blood cell transfusion.

A 41-year-old man with hairy cell leukemia developed erythroid crisis after the transfusion of red cell concentrate. He was diagnosed with Parvovirus B19 infection based upon the presence of B19-specific IgM antibody and viral DNA in the sera. The repository sample from the corresponding red cell concentrate was negative for B19 antigen by red cell hemo-agglutination method, but was found to contain B19 virus DNA. Furthermore, a genomic PCR direct sequencing showed that B19 in both patient's sera and repository sample were identical. This is the first report directly demonstrating the transmission of B19 through B19 antigen-negative red cell concentrate transfusion. Further accumulation of the cases is warranted to estimate its incidence and to reconsider the screening methods of blood products.