Question

In patients with sickle cell, most common viral cause of an aplastic crisis (limited to RBCs, not pan/ all of bone marrow) is infection of erythroid progenitor cells with ___________________.

Answer 1

In sickle cell anemia, a common cause of aplastic crisis is infection with Parvovirus B19, resulting in a severe drop in red blood cell production.

Step-by-step explanation:

In patients with sickle cell anemia, the most common viral cause of an aplastic crisis (limited to RBCs, not pan/all of bone marrow) is infection of erythroid progenitor cells with Parvovirus B19. Sickle cell anemia is characterized by the production of abnormal hemoglobin called hemoglobin S, leading to the distinctive sickle shape of the red blood cells. Aplastic crisis happens when the bone marrow suddenly stops making red blood cells, which in the case of sickle cell patients can be triggered by Parvovirus B19, putting patients at risk for serious complications due to the rapid drop in red blood cell count.