Which condition can lead to parvovirus B19 infection in patients with hemoglobinopathies?

Parvovirus B19 is known to infect and destroy erythroid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. In patients with hemoglobinopathies, particularly those with conditions such as sickle cell disease or thalassemia, there is often an increased demand for red blood cell production due to the underlying hemolysis and chronic anemia.

When a patient with a hemoglobinopathy becomes infected with parvovirus B19, their ability to produce red blood cells is further compromised because the virus specifically targets and destroys the erythroid precursors. This can lead to a rapid drop in hemoglobin levels, resulting in an aplastic crisis. An aplastic crisis is characterized by a sudden severe decrease in red blood cell production, which can lead to significant anemia and its associated symptoms.

In contrast, acute chest syndrome, hyperhemolytic crisis, and sequestration crisis are more related to complications of sickle cell disease or other hemoglobinopathies, rather than directly tied to parvovirus B19 infection. While they may lead to acute illness requiring careful management, they do not specifically involve the destruction of erythroid progenitors by a viral infection like parvovirus does. Therefore, aplastic crisis is the condition that directly associates with parvovirus