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Human Parvovirus B19 has been linked to a variety of diseases. One of the most common complications is transient aplastic crisis in patients with chronic hemolytic anemia. Very few case reports have implicated this virus as a putative etiology behind hepatitis and severe aplastic anemia in immuno competent individuals. We report a case of severe aplastic anemia in a previously healthy adult female due to acute parvovirus B19 infection. Laboratory examination showed pancytopenia in peripheral blood and severe hypoplastic bone marrow on biopsy. Serological analysis (ELISA) revealed acute Parvovirus B19 infection. In the face of unavailable HLA matched bone marrow donor, immuno-supressive therapy was contemplated, but could not be given because of financial constraints. Pancytopenia persists till date, 4 months after the diagnosis, with the patient requiring repeated packed red cell and irradiated platelet transfusions. Thus, acute infection with this virus must be considered a cause of acquired aplastic anemia even in individuals without underlying disease.

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Background:Total thyroidectomy (TT) is a commonly performed surgery and postoperative hypocalcemia is a major detriment to early discharge. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to ascertain the usefulness of routine pre- and post-operative calcium and Vitamin D supplementation in prevention of hypocalcemia after TT.Materials and Methods:Sixty consecutive patients who underwent total or near TT from February 2013 to August 2014 were included in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups - Group 1 received oral calcium (500 mg every 6 h) and Vitamin D (calcitriol 0.25 mcg every 6 h) 7 days before and 7 days after the surgery; and Group 2 did not receive supplementation. Symptoms and signs of hypocalcemia were monitored. Calcium profile was measured pre- and post-operatively at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 h, and on 30th day. Hypocalcemia after surgery was either symptomatic or laboratory documented. Serum calcium level ≤ 8.5 mg/dl was considered as laboratory hypocalcemia.Results:Twelve patients from Group 2, and 3 patients from Group 1 developed symptomatic hypocalcemia (P < 0.01). Laboratory hypocalcemia within postoperative 24 h was comparable between two groups, but more patients of Group 2 compared to Group 1 developed hypocalcemia at 48 h (6 and 13, respectively; P = 0.04) and at 72 h after surgery (5 and 14, respectively; P = 0.01). Twenty-four hours postoperative serum calcium level was significantly associated with grade of goiter, preoperative calcium, and nature of thyroid disease (benign or malignant). On multiple linear regression analysis, preoperative serum calcium was only independent variable significantly associated with development of 24 h post-TT hypocalcemia.Conclusion:Routine pre- and post-TT calcium and Vitamin D supplementation can significantly reduce postoperative hypocalcemia.

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