Abstract
BACKGROUND: Parvovirus B19 is an uncommon cause of anaemia in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The study aims to determine the incidence, clinical presentation, laboratory findings and outcome of parvovirus B19-related anaemia in KTR. METHOD: We conducted a 12-year retrospective, single-centre study describing the clinical profile of KTRs with parvovirus B19-related anaemia. RESULT: Amongst the 714 patients who underwent kidney transplantation between January 2011 and January 2023, (cumulative follow-up: 1287 patient-years), six females and one male, developed parvovirus B19-related anaemia. The incidence proportion (risk) is 0.98% with an incidence rate of 5.43 cases per 1000 patient-year. The median duration from transplant to development of anaemia was 6 weeks (range: 4-40 weeks). The mean fall in haemoglobin was 2.88 ± 1.55 gm/dl; concomitant leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in 57.1 and 28.6% of patients. Three patients responded to a reduction in immunosuppression, the four non-responders required the administration of low-dose intravenous immunoglobulin. The mean duration from initiation of therapy to a sustained rise in haemoglobin was 7.71 ± 2.62 weeks. None of the patients had a relapse of the infection. CONCLUSIONS: Parvovirus B19 infection is an uncommon cause of post-transplant refractory anaemia. The key to successfully managing such patients includes a high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and reduction of immunosuppression with or without administration of intravenous immunoglobulin.