Childhood transient erythroblastopenia complicated by thrombocytopenia and neutropenia

We report on 4 children with transient erythroblastopenia complicated by thrombocytopenia and/or neutropenia. Bone marrow examination revealed severe erythroid hypoplasia with normal granulopoiesis and thrombopoiesis. Human parvovirus B19 infection was confirmed serologically in 2 children. An in vitro study using autologous bone marrow cells after recovery demonstrated IgG-mediated inhibition of erythropoiesis in 4 children. Additionally, antibodies directed against platelets and neutrophils were detected. These findings suggest that the IgG-mediated mechanism may be pathogenetic for the transient pancytopenia of these children.