Parvovirus B-19 induced acute pure red cell aplasia in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and neurofibromatosis type-1.

Parvovirus B19 induced pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) has been previously reported in a variety of settings. We present two cases, an adult patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and a child with neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF-1), where the abrupt appearance of severe anemia raised ominous clinical suspicions. Evidence of recent parvovirus B19 infection in association with the selective erythroid precursor deficiency in marrow helped exclude other etiologies. We emphasize the importance of bearing this infectious agent in mind, even when there are associated disorders (such as CLL) that may independently cause PRCA. An association of NF-1 with acute PRCA has not been described in indexed English literature in the past.