RESUMO
Children with rheumatic oligo- and polyarthritis frequently establish persistent parvovirus B19 infections, which may be associated with the production of antiphospholipid antibodies. Reported in this paper are the data of five girls with polyarticular rheumatic diseases of different types and persistent parvovirus B19 infection associated in four cases with the presence of antibodies against phospholipids. Clinical parameters, virus load, and antiphospholipid-IgG levels were determined during an observation period up to 92 months. In two patients, erythema infectiosum preceded the development of arthritis and B19 viremia persisted. Two other girls showed antibodies against parvoviral structural proteins at time of the manifestation of the rheumatic disease. Subsequent samples also revealed persistent B19 infection. In the fifth patient, parvovirus B19-specific IgG antibodies were detected for the first time after 120 months of progressing disease at an age of 11 1/2 years. Five years later, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed viral DNA. In a synovial tissue specimen subsequently obtained, parvovirus B19 structural proteins could be detected by immunohistochemistry. Three of five patients recovered completely without severe sequels. One patient is in remission under immunosuppressive therapy. The fifth patient suffers from progressive erosions despite intensive therapeutical efforts. In consequence, parvovirus B 19 should generally be taken into consideration as a trigger of various forms of juvenile arthritis and persistence of infection should be evaluated.