Parvovirus B19 infection in an HIV-infected patient with febrile pancytopenia and acute hepatitis

The case of a 34-year-old male patient with HIV infection referred for severe febrile pancytopenia is reported. Clinical and laboratory evaluations revealed acute hepatitis B infection and concomitant parvovirus B19 infection. The patient died just before treatment with immune globulin was to be administered. Parvovirus B19 has been found to cause a wide variety of hematologic disorders such as neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, and hemophagocytic syndrome. The role of parvovirus B19 in the pathogenesis of bone marrow or liver involvement is briefly discussed.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]