A 24-year-old woman with sickle cell disease is seen in the emergency room for an acute upper respiratory tract infection. Laboratory findings reveal severe, normocytic anemia. The patient develops a rapid drop in the hemoglobin level. However, the reticulocyte count is very low (<0.1%). This finding most likely reflects which of the following conditions?
Aplastic crisis in sickle cell disease arises from the infection of red cell progenitors by parvovirus B19, which causes a transient cessation of erythropoiesis and a sudden worsening of the anemia. It is triggered by infection of erythroblasts in bone marrow with parvovirus B19.
Bone marrow failure due to repeated infarction
Expected result for the patient's underlying anemia
Parvovirus B19 infection
Retroperitoneal hemorrhage
Hemoglobinopathies: Sickle cell anemia