Childhood Kidney Diseases  2015;19(2):176-179

doi:10.3339/chikd.2015.19.2.176

Severe Anemia Due to Parvovirus Infection Following Treatment with Rituximab in a Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipient: Anemia after Treatment of Rituximab in Kidney Recipient Patient.

Seung Yun KIM 1 ; Hyoung Jin LEE ; Eujin PARK ; Yo Han AHN ; Il Soo HA ; Hae Il CHEONG ; Hee Gyung KANG

Affiliations

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Keywords

Rituximab; parvovirus; kidney transplantation; PRCA; anemia

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Rituximab (RTX), a monoclonal antibody against the B-cell marker CD20, is commonly used as a treatment for antibody-mediated diseases or B-lymphocyte-mediated diseases. Destruction of B cells may reverse the disease course in many conditions; however, patients who are treated with RTX cannot respond appropriately to de novo infection due to lack of B lymphocytes. Here, we report one such case. A 7-year-old renal allograft recipient presented with severe anemia due to parvovirus infection after RTX treatment. The patient had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and had received cadaveric kidney transplantation 6 months previously. She was treated with high-dose steroid for acute rejection and RTX for Epstein Barr Virus infection 3 months previously. At presentation, her hemoglobin level was 5.4 g/dL and leukocyte and platelet counts were normal. She had microcytic normochromic anemia and high viral load of parvovirus B19(70,578 copies/mL). Intravenous immunoglobulin (200 mg/kg.d) treatment controlled the progression of anemia and parvovirus infection. De novo parvovirus infection during the B lymphocyte-depletion period may have precipitated the severe anemia in this case. Close monitoring of infection is required after RTX therapy.