Transient aplastic crisis triggered by parvovirus B19 in a family with hereditary spherocytosis

Acute parvovirus B19 infection may lead to erythroblastopenia crisis in patients with underlying red blood cells disorders. We report herein an uncommon concomitant transient aplastic crisis in a mother and her daughter, both affected by hereditary spherocytosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by the detection of a very high parvovirus B19 DNA load in both the mother’s and daughter’s sera, associated with the presence of parvovirus B19 specific immunoglobulin-M antibodies. This rapid etiologic diagnosis allowed to save bone marrow sampling, although blood transfusion was required regarding the severe anemia associated with pancytopenia. Our observation illustrates first line parvovirus B19 hypothesis in the context of transient aplastic crisis and that contagiousness in household contacts should be considered in family with a medical history of red blood cell pathology.