Congenital anaemia after transplacental B19 parvovirus infection.

We report three children with congenital anaemia after intrauterine infection with B19 parvovirus. All the fetuses developed hydrops fetalis that was treated by blood transfusion. After delivery the infants had hypogammaglobulinaemia. In all three, sera lacked B19 but viral DNA was found in bone marrow. All were treated with immunoglobulin. One child died and B19 was found in various tissues. In the other two cases, virus could no longer be detected after therapy but the patients remain persistently anaemic. Persistent B19 infection should be suspected in infants with congenital red-cell aplasia.

Persistent B19 parvovirus infection in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1): a treatable cause of anemia in AIDS.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of B19 parvovirus in red cell aplasia of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). DESIGN: Uncontrolled clinical trial, with assay of serum, peripheral blood cells, and bone marrow for virus using DNA hybridization and immunocytochemistry techniques; these assays were then correlated with clinical findings, results of immunoassays for antivirus antibodies, and with immunoglobulin (Ig) therapy. SETTING: Government medical referral center, and university and private hospitals. PATIENTS: Seven patients with pure red cell aplasia and serologic evidence of infection with HIV-1. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All patients had giant pronormoblasts in the bone marrow (present in transient aplastic crisis caused by acute B19 parvovirus infection). High concentrations of B19 parvovirus were demonstrated in sera, in several cases in samples separated by weeks or months. Viral DNA and capsid protein were present in the bone marrow of three patients studied, and active viral replication was detected by southern analysis. There was no antivirus IgG in capture immunoassay and no or very low levels of antivirus IgM. The patients did not have symptoms of fifth disease, the illness caused by this virus in immunologically normal persons. Six patients were treated with a regimen of intravenous commercial immunoglobulin. In all cases, this therapy resulted in rapid reduction in serum virus concentrations and full recovery of erythropoiesis. Relapses in two cases were predicted by DNA hybridization studies, and these cases were successfully retreated. CONCLUSIONS: The B19 parvovirus is a remediable cause of severe chronic anemia in HIV-infected patients. Recognition of and therapy for parvovirus in this population will avoid erythrocyte transfusion and should prevent transmission of the virus to other persons, including immunosuppressed persons and women of child-bearing age.

Spontaneous remission of acute leukemia after the termination of pregnancy.

A 28-year-old woman in the third trimester of her pregnancy was found to have acute myelocytic leukemia. The baby was delivered by Cesarean section and her leukemia underwent spontaneous remission. However, 3 months later, she presented with massive painful leukemic infiltration of the breasts as initial manifestation of relapse, followed by systemic symptoms of leukemia. In vitro culture of the leukemic cells demonstrated characteristics of macrophage cell line. This case illustrates a unique sequence of events: spontaneous remission after the termination of pregnancy, which has profound hormonal alterations, and relapse in a very hormone-sensitive organ, the breast, a few months later when the hormonal milieu was resumed. This suggests hormonal dependence of her leukemic cells and potential for hormonal manipulation in a certain subset of human leukemia.