Infection with Parvovirus-like Virus and Aplastic Crisis in Chronic Hemolytic Anemia

From 1980 to 1982 seven adults with chronic hemolytic anemia were admitted to Cook County Hospital, Chicago, with aplastic crisis. Six of these patients had sickle cell anemia, the seventh patient had beta thalassemia intermedia. Virologic studies showed that six patients had acute infection with the human parvovirus-like virus; in the remaining patient the lack of appropriate specimens precluded viral diagnosis. We describe the features of the virus infection and accompanying erythroid aplasia, and discuss the role of parvovirus-like virus as the etiologic agent in the arrest of erythrocyte production.