Acute encephalopathy with parvovirus B19 infection in sickle cell disease

Abstract

A 13 year old girl with haemoglobin Sbeta(+)thalassaemia developed simultaneous aplastic crisis and encephalopathy associated with parvovirus B19 (PB19) infection. Brain magnetic resonance imaging findings were consistent with central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis and her symptoms resolved with steroid therapy. Thus, PB19 induced CNS hypersensitivity vasculitis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of encephalopathy.

Figure 1

Sagittal T1 images before (A) and after contrast (B), showing punctate enhancement. Unenhanced scan two weeks later shows punctate areas of perivascular haemorrhage (C).