Parvovirus infection in a family associated with aplastic crisis in an affected sibling pair with hereditary spherocytosis.

There have been many reports of aplastic crisis preceded by a febrile illness in hereditary haemolytic anaemias. Recent research has shown that the human parvovirus may be a causative agent. We report on an adult sibling pair with hereditary spherocytosis who presented in aplastic crisis after a febrile illness. Both had evidence of recent parvovirus infection, shown by the presence of IgM class specific antibody in their sera. The children of one of the sibling pair, one of whom has hereditary spherocytosis but no chronic haemolysis, showed similar evidence of acute parvovirus infection.