Fortnightly Review: Parvovirus B19: an expanding spectrum of disease

BMJ 1995;311:1549-1552 (9 December)

Education and debate

Bernard Cohen, clinical scientist ^a

^a Public Health Laboratory Service, Central Public Health Laboratory, Virus Reference Division, London NW9 5HT

Summary points

Infection with parvovirus B19 is common and is usually spread by the respiratory route
In immunocompetent individuals with normal red cells B19 infection is benign and self limiting, usually presenting as erythema infectiosum (the slapped cheeked syndrome) in children
In adults, especially women, B19 infection is often complicated by acute polyarthritis, which may persist in some cases
Parvovirus B19 may also be transmitted across the placenta. Severe fetal B19 infection may result in hydrops fetalis and fetal death
Parvovirus B19 causes transient aplastic crisis in patients with chronic haemolytic anaemia; such patients pose a risk of nosocomial transmission of the virus
Severe anaemia, prolonged or relapsing, may develop in immunocompromised patients infected with parvovirus B19. This can be treated with normal immunoglobulin
Parvovirus B19 may be transmitted by blood components or blood products

Valeur-Jensen, A. K., Pedersen, C. B., Westergaard, T., Jensen, I. P., Lebech, M., Andersen, P. K., Aaby, P., Pedersen, B. N., Melbye, M. (1999). Risk Factors for Parvovirus B19 Infection in Pregnancy. JAMA 281: 1099-1105 [Abstract] [Full text]