Sickle Cell Anemia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Sickle Cell Anemia, including details on genetics, causes, symptoms.

Life threatening parvovirus B19 and herpes simplex virus associated acute myocardial dysfunction in a child with homozygous sickle cell disease.

Krishnamurti L, Lanford L, Munoz R

Division of Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. krislx@chp.edu

Human parvovirus (HPV) B19, a common infection, frequently causes transient red cell aplasia in children with hemolytic anemia, such as sickle cell disease (SCD). It was considered to be a self-limited condition, easily treated with blood transfusion. However, acute splenic sequestration, acute chest syndrome, nephrotic syndrome, and stroke have been reported in SCD patients following HPV B19 infection. We report a 3-year-old child with SCD who developed fulminant myocarditis following HPV B19-related aplastic crisis. The diagnosis of myocarditis should be considered in a patient with hemolytic anemia with an infection with HPV B19 who develops signs of cardiopulmonary failure despite correction of anemia.

Published 22 October 2007 in Pediatr Blood Cancer, 49(7): 1019-21.
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