[Thrombocytopenia caused by Parvovirus B19 infection in a child with acute lymphatic leukemia].

A three-year-old boy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Two years later, while on maintenance chemotherapy, the patient was readmitted due to thrombocytopenia. The thrombocytopenia was caused by parvovirus B19 infection as evidenced by the finding of specific DNA in serum and bone marrow samples. Previous reports have highlighted the role of parvovirus B19 as a haematological pitfall and the present case shows that this virus has the potential to mimic a leukemic relapse.