Pure red cell aplasia in systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Common causes of anemia in juvenile idiopathic arthritis are anemia of chronic disease and iron deficiency. We report a 4 year old boy with biopsy proven systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis and severe anemia. Bone marrow aspiration revealed pure red cell aplasia without evidence of hemophagocytosis. This rare, unexplained but well known entity responded to corticosteroids.