Human parvovirus B19-induced transient pancytopenia in a child with hereditary spherocytosis.

We report a child with hereditary spherocytosis who developed human parvovirus B19 (HPV B19)-induced transient pancytopenia. Symptoms of acute-phase illness subsided promptly after infusion of gammaglobulin containing HPV B19 antibody. The HPV B19-containing serum on admission inhibited not only erythroid colony growth but also myeloid and megakaryocyte colony growths. The inhibitory effect was abrogated by convalescent-phase serum or gammaglobulin solution containing HPV B19 antibody. These findings suggest that HPV B19-induced inhibition of haematopoiesis may be pathogenetic for transient bone marrow failure of the patient. The passive immunization may be effective in shortening the duration of acute-phase illness of HPV B19 infection.