Idiopathic Transient Normocytic, Normochromic Anaemia of Childhood

Idiopathic transient normocytic, normochromic anaemia of childhood. The paediatric literature recognises an uncommon, self-limiting condition characterised by a severe normocytic, normochromic anaemia occurring in otherwise healthy children. Previous descriptions report erythroblastopenia as the characteristic bone marrow finding. Fifteen children are described with the essential features of this condition. Of these, erythroblastopenia was present in only seven; four showed an erythroid hyperplasia and in four the bone marrow was only marginally abnormal. The latter two groups of patients demonstrated a “shift to the left” in their erythroid precursors. Contrary to earlier reports, it is suggested that the bone marrow changes in this condition are variable.