ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnosis, clinical features, treatment and outcome of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) caused by human parvovirus B19 (HPV-B19) infection in kidney recipients. Method The clinical courses of six patients with PRCA caused by HPV-B19 infection after renal transplantation in West China Hospital between May 2018 and April 2019 were retrospectively investigated. Results The six patients showed obvious anemia symptoms, lacking rash, joint pain and other clinical symptoms of viral infection. The hemoglobin level of five patients got totally remission from a course of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment, and anemia symptoms like fatigue, weakness got notable improvement. One patient had no improvement after two courses of IVIG treatment, and his anemia was significantly improved after the third IVIG course combined with immunosuppressant conversion(from tacrolimus to cyclosporine), and one patient with recurrence accepted a repeated course of IVIG treatment and obtained remission of severe anemia again. The median time of reticulocyte firstly rose to above 0.084×1012/L from the day of IVIG treatment ended was 3.50 (1.25, 5.00) days, and the median time required for a 30 g/L increase in hemoglobin to the end of IVIG treatment was 16.00 (9.25, 31.25) days. No serious adverse reactions occurred and all patients had stable graft function. Conclusions The main clinical manifestations of PRCA caused by HPV-B19 infection after kidney transplantation are anemia symptoms, lacking other clinical symptoms of viral infection. HPV-B19 DNA detection combined with blood routine examination, reticulocyte count and bone marrow cytology (or none) can diagnose HPV-B19 infection. High dose of IVIG is effective and safe, and a repeated course is still effective when the infection recurs. For refractory PRCA that IVIG monotherapy fail, a combination with conversion from tacrolimus to cyclosporine can effectively improve the anemia without graft dysfunction.
