What virus is associated with an aplastic crisis in sickle cell disease?

Parvovirus B19 is specifically known for its association with aplastic crisis in patients with sickle cell disease. In sickle cell disease, patients have chronic hemolysis and their bone marrow is often compensating for the ongoing anemia by increasing red blood cell production. However, parvovirus B19 has a particular tropism for erythroid progenitor cells in the bone marrow.

When a patient with sickle cell disease contracts parvovirus B19, the virus disrupts the normal erythropoietic response by causing a suppression of red blood cell production. This leads to a significant decrease in the number of red blood cells, resulting in an acute exacerbation of anemia — known as an aplastic crisis. Patients may experience symptoms such as fatigue, pallor, and increased heart rate during this crisis.

While other viruses can infect patients with sickle cell disease and cause different complications, such as infections or other forms of anemia, none have the specific impact on erythropoiesis that parvovirus B19 does, particularly during an acute infection.