Parvovirus-associated aplastic crisis in homozygous sickle cell disease - abstract

ABSTRACT

Aplastic crises in patients with homzygous sickle-cell (SS) disease in Jamaica affect predominantly children and occur in epidemics. Of 67 cases in a cohort study of 314 children with SS disease, 62 were attributable to human parvovirus infection. Affected children were aged 0.5 - 12.5 years, and the incidence rose to 28 percent in 10 years. No recurrences were seen. Symptoms and signs on presentation were attributable to the viraemia, and acute anaemia. Asymptomatic thrombocytopaenia was common. Blood transfusion was given in 54 (87 percent) cases. Thirty-eight (61 percent) children were admitted to hospital, 16 of whom were extremely ill on presentation and one died soon after admission to hospital. Twenty-four (39 percent) were managed as out-patients, 16 of whom were transfused. Parvovirus-associated aplastic crisis is a self-limiting condition with excellent prognosis if diagnosed promptly and appropriately managed (AU)