Bone marrow abnormalities in HIV infected children, report of three cases and review of the literature

Bone marrow abnormalities in HIV infected adults include hypocellularity, myelodysplasia and poor marrow recovery. Data in children is limited. We report a series of three HIV infected with varied bone marrow abnormalities. First child was a 7-year-old boy with pulmonary tuberculosis, anemia, thrombocytopenia and bone marrow examination showed hypoplastic marrow. He succumbed to his disease within seven days of hospitalization. Second child was a three and a half year old girl who had severe anemia and her bone marrow examination showed dyserythropoiesis. Third child was a 7-year-old boy who had splenic abscesses and pancytopenia and bone marrow examination showed myelofibrosis with increased plasma cells. He also succumbed due to a fatal pulmonary bleed. Thus, advanced HIV disease in children can lead to bone marrow suppression in form of hypoplasia or myelofibrosis which can be fatal.