Erythroid Crisis Caused by Parvovirus B19 Transmitted Via Red Blood Cell Transfusion

• Published in: Internal Medicine Vol. 50; no. 20; pp. 2379 - 2382
• Main Authors: Tsukada, Yuiko, Yokoyama, Kenji, Ishida, Akaru, Handa, Makoto, Mori, Takehiko, Kizaki, Masahiro, Okamoto, Shinichiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Adult; Erythrocyte Transfusion - adverse effects; Erythroid Cells; horizontal transmission; Humans; Male; Parvoviridae Infections - blood; Parvoviridae Infections - transmission; Parvovirus B19; Parvovirus B19, Human; polymerase chain reaction; red blood cell transfusion
• ISSN: 0918-2918; 1349-7235
• DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.50.5458

A 41-year-old man with hairy cell leukemia developed erythroid crisis after the transfusion of red cell concentrate. He was diagnosed with Parvovirus B19 infection based upon the presence of B19-specific IgM antibody and viral DNA in the sera. The repository sample from the corresponding red cell concentrate was negative for B19 antigen by red cell hemo-agglutination method, but was found to contain B19 virus DNA. Furthermore, a genomic PCR direct sequencing showed that B19 in both patient's sera and repository sample were identical. This is the first report directly demonstrating the transmission of B19 through B19 antigen-negative red cell concentrate transfusion. Further accumulation of the cases is warranted to estimate its incidence and to reconsider the screening methods of blood products.