Transient erythroblastopenia of childhood is an underdiagnosed and self-limiting disease

Aim Transient erythroblastopenia of childhood (TEC) is an uncommon, benign normocytic anaemia of unknown cause, characterised by reduced or absent mature erythroid precursors in otherwise normocellular bone marrow and a complete spontaneous recovery. We present epidemiological data on paediatric TEC cases in a single centre over 30years and compare them with published data. Methods In this retrospective study, epidemiological data on children diagnosed with TEC between 1978 and 2008 were collected and compared with published data. Results A total of 36 children (median age 19months, 56% male children) were diagnosed. At presentation, median haemoglobin was 44g/L with absolute reticulocyte count 0x109/L; seventeen (47%) patients were neutropenic and 23 (64%) had platelet counts of more than 400x109/L. The majority (78%) presented from 1983 to 1997, and 78% of articles reviewing 10 or more TEC patients were published between 1983 and 1992. Conclusion Transient erythroblastopenia of childhood is now diagnosed less frequently in our institution than in the last two decades. Although the aetiology remains largely unknown, it is possible that changes in causative environmental factors contribute to making TEC a rare disease. Clinicians need to be aware of TEC in order to prevent unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic measurements.