[Treatment-refractory anaemia in a 35-year-old heart transplant recipient on chronic hemodialysis]

Es wird über einen 35-jährigen Dialysepatienten nach Herztransplantation berichtet, der eine „pure red cell aplasia“ aufwies. Serologisch fand sich ein positiver Parvovirus-B19-Immunglobulin-M-Titer, im Direktnachweis mittels Polymerase-Kettenreaktion zeigten sich 80 Mrd. IU/ml. In der zytologischen Untersuchung des Knochenmarks gelang der Nachweis von Riesenproerythroblasten, pathognomonisch für eine Parvovirus-B19-Infektion. Zur Therapie erfolgte die hoch dosierte Gabe von Immunglobulinen über 5 Tage. Bei Wiedervorstellung nach vier Wochen zeigte sich die Anämie deutlich gebessert. Bei Patienten nach Organtransplantation mit hyporegenerativer Anämie sollte eine Parvovirus-B19-Infektion stets ausgeschlossen werden.

[Persistent anemia after kidney transplantation in a 36-year-old male patient-an unusual cause]

An allogeneic kidney transplantation (match 1‑1‑0, cytomegalovirus, CMV, donor, D, +/recipient, R, - high risk) was performed in a 36-year-old patient. The patient was on dialysis due to a tubulointerstitial nephritis confirmed by biopsy 11 years previously. Posttransplantation there was a gradual decrease in the hemoglobin (Hb) level from 11.4 g/dl to 7.3 g/dl during the initial hospitalization period. Initially this was explained by the kidney transplantation and chronic fibrosing antral gastritis with erosions. Despite repeated transfusion of red cell concentrates, a refractory anemia persisted, which is why the patient presented several times at our clinic for further diagnosis and treatment. The presence of giant erythroblasts in the bone marrow and quantitative detection of parvovirus B19 (>900 million IU/ml DNA replications) was consistent with a virus-associated red cell aplasia. Intravenous immunoglobulin administration was established and showed long-term therapeutic success.

Congenital infections in Hong Kong: beyond TORCH

Congenital infections refer to a group of perinatal infections that are caused by pathogens transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy (transplacentally) or delivery (peripartum) which may have similar clinical presentations, including rash and ocular findings. TORCH is the acronym that covers these infections (toxoplasmosis, other [syphilis], rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus). Other important causes of intrauterine/perinatal infection include human immunodeficiency virus, varicella-zoster virus, Treponema pallidum, Zika virus, and parvovirus B19. This overview aims to describe various congenital infections beyond TORCH with a Hong Kong perspective. Intrauterine and perinatal infections are a major cause of in utero death and neonatal mortality, and an important contributor to childhood morbidity. A high index of suspicion for congenital infections and awareness of the prominent features of the most common congenital infections can help to facilitate early diagnosis, tailor appropriate diagnostic evaluation, and initiate appropriate early treatment. Intrauterine infections should be suspected in newborns with clinical features including microcephaly, seizures, cataract, hearing loss, congenital heart disease, hepatosplenomegaly, small for gestational age, and/or rash. Primary prevention of maternal infections during pregnancy is key to the prevention of congenital infection, and resources (if available) should focus on public health promotion and pre-marital counselling.