Transient erythroblastopenia of childhood

Signs and symptoms

Individuals with TEC have a median age of presentation of 18–26 months; however, the disorder may occur in infants younger than 6 months and in children as old as age 10 years. Because of the gradual onset of the anemia, children are often healthier than expected from their low hemoglobin levels.

Cause

The cause of TEC is unknown, but it thought to be triggered by a viral infection. While rare cases have been attributed to infection with parvovirus B19, the majority of cases are not related to parvovirus infection. This is in contrast to transient aplastic crisis, seen in patients with chronic disorders causing hemolysis such as sickle cell disease or hereditary spherocytosis, which is usually caused by parvovirus infection.

Diagnosis

Children typically present with a moderate normocytic anemia (usual range: hemoglobin 5-8 g/dL) and reticulocytopenia. Mean corpuscular volume is usually normal for age. Hemoglobin F levels are also typically normal.

Prognosis

Most patients recover completely within 1–2 months. However many reported cases have lasted 18–24 months and longer.

References

References

1. (December 2000). "Pure red cell aplasia caused by Parvovirus B19 infection in solid organ transplant recipients: a case report and review of literature". Clinical Transplantation.
2. (June 2005). "Classic transient erythroblastopenia of childhood with human parvovirus B19 genome detection in the blood and bone marrow". Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
3. (2018). "Anemia". Cambridge University Press.