Persistent parvovirus B19 related anemia of seven years' duration in an HIV-infected patient: complete remission associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy

Abstract

A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individual was first diagnosed with red blood cell aplasia due to B19 parvovirus infection in late 1989. Over the subsequent seven-year period, he received a total of 119 units of red blood cells (RBCs) and intravenous immunoglobulin every 2-3 weeks. In 1996 combination antiretroviral treatment with a protease inhibitor was initiated. He received four more units during the following two months and then required no more transfusions for the subsequent 24 months of follow-up. His CD4 count progressively increased and DNA polymerase chain reaction for parvovirus B19 became undetectable. Aggressive antiretroviral treatment may effectively diminish transfusion requirements among HIV-infected individuals with pure RBC aplasia resulting from parvovirus B19 infection.