Parvovirus B19 Infection: A Vasculitis Masquerade in an Elderly Patient.

BACKGROUND The profound ability of viral infections to convincingly mimic vasculitis, thereby pathologically influencing vessels of any caliber, is undeniably significant. Notably, adult patients with B19V infection frequently experience joint pain and cutaneous eruptions, which are ostensibly immune responses to the infection and necessitate careful differentiation from autoimmunity. Conversely, vasculitis syndromes represent an amalgamation of diseases characterized by vascular inflammation, predominantly classified based on the impacted vessels' size and location. Although the expedited diagnosis and therapeutic management of vasculitis are paramount, many conditions, including infectious diseases, can potentially masquerade as vasculitis, necessitating rigorous differential diagnosis. CASE REPORT A 78-year-old male patient presented with fever, bilateral leg edema, skin rash, and foot numbness to the outpatient department. Blood investigations showed elevated inflammatory parameters, and urinalysis showed proteinuria and occult blood presence. We considered SVV, particularly microscopic polyangiitis, which causes acute renal injury, as the provisional diagnosis. Blood investigations, including auto-antibodies and a skin biopsy, were performed. However, his clinical symptoms resolved spontaneously before these investigation results were reported. Subsequently, the patient was diagnosed with B19V infection based on B19V immunoglobulin M antibody positivity. CONCLUSIONS B19V infection mimics vasculitis. Even in geriatric patients, particularly during B19V infection outbreaks, clinicians should conduct thorough interviews and examinations while contemplating the likelihood of B19V infection as a potential vasculitis mimic.

Progress of research on human parvovirus B19 infection after renal transplantation.

Long-term immunosuppressant use in renal transplant recipients leads to dampened immune function and high susceptibility to opportunistic pathogens. Recently, the incidence of human parvovirus B19 (HPV-B19) infection after renal transplantation has increased, which may lead to pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), affect graft function, and lead to renal injury. After renal transplantation, the clinical manifestations of HPV-B19 infection are atypical, challenging the diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, we aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the existing literature to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of HPV-B19 infection after renal transplantation. To this end, we have described various aspects of HPV-B19 infection after renal transplantation ranging from the etiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment, to its prevention post renal transplant.

Use of oral fluid samples for the investigation of outbreaks of human parvovirus B19 infection.

The use of oral fluid (OF) samples for serological diagnosis of parvovirus B19 infection during outbreaks of erythema infectiosum had already been demonstrated, but the feasibility of using OF for the characterization of B19 genotypes circulating during outbreaks has not been described. The aim of this study was to assess the use of "in-house" PCR-based assays as a powerful tool for a rapid diagnosis and molecular characterization of B19 strains in OF samples during outbreaks. Paired serum and OF samples collected from anti-B19 IgM-positive patients, during two outbreaks of ertythema infectiosum (1999-2000 and 2004-2005), were tested by conventional (cPCR) and quantitative PCR (qPCR). qPCR was more sensitive than cPCR for detecting B19-DNA in both OF and serum. Overall, OF presented lower viral load (9.97 × 106 UI/mL) than serum (2.42 × 1010 UI/mL) and this difference was statistically significant. All OF samples obtained from patients in the age group < 14 years presented low viral load (< 104 IU/mL). No correlation was found between viral load and the number of days of onset of rash. Sequence analysis from PCR positive OF samples confirmed the circulation of subgenotype 1a (G1a) during these outbreaks. Our findings indicate that PCR-based assays may fail to detect B19-DNA in approximately 50% of OF compared to serum samples. Nevertheless, our study has shown for the first time that the genome sequence of the amplicon from non-invasive clinical sample is useful for molecular genotyping and may be a tool to clarify the genetic diversity of B19 strains circulating in distinct outbreaks.

[Parvovirus B19 infections in adults]. / Infection de l'adulte à Parvovirus.

Acute Parvovirus B19 (PVB19) infection is responsible for erythema infectiosum in children and non-specific polyarthralgias in immunocompetent adults associated with skin lesions and rarer manifestations (hepatic, neurological, cardiac or nephrological). In immunocompromised patients, cytopenias are more frequent and in some cases, viremia persists and is responsible for PVB19 chronic infection. PVB19 is responsible for pure red cell aplasia during chronic hemolytic diseases. Acute PVB19 infection is a differential diagnosis of some autoimmune diseases and has been suspected to be a trigger for some autoimmune diseases because of its ability to promote the emergence of autoimmune markers. Mechanisms of molecular mimicry, induction of apoptosis and activation of enzymes have been demonstrated, explaining in part the production of autoantibodies during infection. However, the demonstration of a causal relationship in the triggering of autoimmune disease remains to be done. This review provides a synthesis of the PVB19 infection clinical data in adults with a particular focus on these links with autoimmunity.

Parvovirus B19 infection in kidney transplant recipients: A prospective study in a teaching hospital in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of epidemiological studies on the course and clinical characteristics of Parvovirus B19 (B19V) infections in kidney transplant (KT) recipients. This study was undertaken to provide recommendations for clinical B19V infection diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Serum samples of KT recipients were regularly collected and tested for B19V-DNA copies, B19V-IgG/IgM levels, as well as hematological parameters and functions of kidney and liver. The course of B19V infection was described according to the results of serology and DNA testing, and the clinical and epidemiological data were combined for analysis. RESULTS: 75% B19V infections occurred within 2 weeks after KT(n = 9). The infection rate of B19V in KT recipients was high, namely 10.17% (n = 12). The number of 10 patients IgM antibodies against B19V (IgM+) and theDNA B19V (DNA+), whereas 2 patients were IgM negative (IgM-) but DNA+. The B19V infected KT patients showed several symptoms, including anemia (100%), reduction of platelets (8.33%), and damage to liver (75%) and kidney function (16.67%) Patients with progressive anemia in the first two weeks after KT, which combined with the decrease of reticulocytes, are more likely to have B19V infection. Associations of four main therapeutic risk factors for B19V infections in KT patients have been analyzed. B19V infection was associated with use of basiliximab (OR = 1.19; 95%- CI: 1.08-1.32; P = 0.003) and use of thymoglobulins (OR = 0.84; 95%-CI: 0.76-0.93; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Doctors should be alert to B19V infection, especially in the immunodeficient patients within the first two weeks after transplantation.

[Atypical involvement of purpuric syndrome caused by parvovirus B19. Case report in a 12-year-old female]. / Síndrome purpúrico de distribución atípica por parvovirus B19 en una adolescente.

Parvovirus B19 is the cause of a variety of exanthematous diseases during childhood and adolescence, such as erythema infectiosum and papular purpuric gloves and socks syndrome. This is an unusual, benign and acute acrodermatitis. Aphtous stomatitis, fever and other systemic symptoms can be associated with the eruption of the purpuric rash. Uncommon patterns such as asymmetrical distribution or erythematous involvement llave recently been described as additional features of PVB19-associated purpuric petechial eruption. This is a case report of a 12-year-old female with an atypical involvement of a papular-purpuric syndrome caused by human parvovirus B19.

Síndrome purpúrico de distribución atípica por parvovirus B19 en una adolescente / Atypical involvement of purpuric syndrome caused by parvovirus B19: case report in a 12-year-old female

Resumen El parvovirus B19 es causante de una variedad de enfermedades exantemáticas durante la infancia y adolescencia, como el eritema infeccioso y el síndrome papular purpúrico en guante y calcetín. Este último es una acrodermatitis aguda, inusual y benigna, que puede asociarse a aftas orales, fiebre y otros síntomas constitucionales. Existen casos atípicos como la púrpura febril en otras localizaciones, sin cumplir la distribución característica en guante y calcetín de forma simétrica o con un mayor componente de eritrodermia. Presentamos el caso de una adolescente de 12 años con un síndrome papular purpúrico de distribución atípica por parvovirus B19.

Abstract Parvovirus B19 is the cause of a variety of exanthematous diseases during childhood and adolescence, such as erythema infectiosum and papular purpuric gloves and socks syndrome. This is an unusual, benign and acute acrodermatitis. Aphtous stomatitis, fever and other systemic symptoms can be associated with the eruption of the purpuric rash. Uncommon patterns such as asymmetrical distribution or erythematous involvement llave recently been described as additional features of PVB19-associated purpuric petechial eruption. This is a case report of a 12-year-old female with an atypical involvement of a papular-purpuric syndrome caused by human parvovirus B19.

The detection, treatment of parvovirus B19 infection induced anemia in solid organ transplants: A case series and literature review of 194 patients.

BACKGROUND: There are no optimal diagnostic, treatment and post-infection surveillance strategies for parvovirus B19 infection in solid organ transplantation (SOT) recipients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all PVB19 infected cases confirmed by qPCR among SOT recipients at our institution over a 3-year period and reviewed the literature from 1990 to 2021. RESULTS: Eight kidney and two heart transplant patients with refractory anemia had PVB19 infection. The viral DNA load in peripheral blood ranged from 2.62×102 to 8.31×106 copies/mL. Two patients with the lowest PVB19 DNA load only reduced the use of immunosuppressants and anemia was relieved. Eight received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) (ranging from 0.25 to 0.5g/kg/day). The median time to anemia improvement (hemoglobulin>100g/L) was 16days (8-70days) after treatment. One patient had a PVB19 relapse and viral DNA load>1.00×108 copies/mL at diagnosis. A total of 86 studies involving 194 SOTs were screened from the literature, and the most common symptom was anemia and low reticulocyte count. PVB19 DNA was detected in all cases. Of that, 91.4% of cases received IVIG, 53.8% received IVIG and immunosuppression reduction, 6.5% of cases showed reduced immunosuppression without IVIG, and 2.1% did not receive any special treatment. The recurrence rate was 17.5%. CONCLUSION: PVB19 infection is a cause of anemia after SOT, and treatment mainly relies on IVIG and/or immunosuppression reduction.

Human parvovirus B19 infection in hospitalized patients suspected of infection with pathogenic microorganism.

Background: Human parvovirus B19 (HPV B19) is a single-stranded DNA virus. The detection rate of HPV B19 in the blood of healthy blood donors using PCR technology was reported to be 6.323/100000. However, that among hospitalized patients suspected of being infected with a pathogenic microorganism is unknown. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 2,182 high-throughput NGS results for 1,484 inpatients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to October 2021 who were suspected of being infected with a pathogenic microorganism, as well as on clinical data of some HPV B19-positive patients. Results: Human parvovirus B19 was detected in 39 samples from 33 patients. The positivity rate was 2.22% among patients and 1.78% among samples. HPV B19 was detected in 20 cerebrospinal fluid samples, 13 blood samples, 3 alveolar lavage fluid samples, 2 tissue samples, and 1 throat swab. Based on clinical symptoms and NGS results, 16 patients were diagnosed with HPV B19 infection. The number of HPV B19 sequences in these patients was greater than 6, and the patients showed common symptoms such as fever (14 cases), anemia (11 cases), and severe nervous system symptoms such as meningoencephalitis (9 cases) and Guillain-Barré syndrome with peripheral motor and sensory nerve axon damage (4 cases). All 16 patients had experienced events likely to lead to decreased immunity (11 had a history of trauma/surgery/major disease, 4 had a history of precursor infection, and 3 had used immunosuppressants) and 7 had a history of blood transfusion during hospitalization. After treatment with antiviral drugs (12 cases) and intravenous human immunoglobulin (3 cases), of the 16 patients, 14 patients improved. Conclusion: The HPV B19 infection rate in hospitalized patients suspected of microbial infection was 2.22%. Most patients with HPV B19 infection had a history of low immunity and blood transfusion. HPV B19 could be detected in various bodily fluids and tissues (especially cerebrospinal fluid) using NGS. Patients with severe HPV B19 infection may have nervous system damage such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and meningoencephalitis. Early diagnosis using NGS and treatment with antiviral drugs and immunoglobulin can improve prognosis.

Neurological Manifestations Associated with Parvovirus B19 Infection in Immunocompetent Children: Case Series and Systematic Review.

An increasing number of reports have described human parvovirus B19 infection in association with a variety of neurological manifestations, especially in children. This study assessed the clinical and laboratory outcomes found in a case series of immunocompetent children who tested positive for parvovirus B19 by qualitative polymerase chain reaction assays of cerebrospinal fluid, in a tertiary referral center in the western Brazilian Amazon. We screened 178 children with clinically diagnosed central nervous system infections (meningoencephalitis). Of these, five (2.8%) were positive for parvovirus B19. A literature review also presented herein identified a further 50 cases of parvovirus B19 with neurological manifestations. Thus, even if the classic signs of parvovirus B19 infection are absent, such as the well-known rash, children with signs of neurological infection should also be evaluated for parvovirus B19 infection.

Comparison of 4 commercial enzyme immunoassays for serology testing of human parvovirus B19 infection.

BACKGROUND: Parvovirus B19 is a pathogenic virus often diagnosed by serology, yet little is known about analytical performance of commercial enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). OBJECTIVE: To investigate performance of 4 EIAs for parvovirus B19 IgM and IgG: Liaison, Euroimmun, Mikrogen and Virion/Serion. STUDY DESIGN: To compare 4 EIAs to Biotrin's ELISA on 168 samples and determine consensus score for discordant samples using Mikrogen's confirmatory line assay. RESULTS: Two thirds of results for IgM/IgG were identical for all 4 EIAs and Biotrin. Liaison shows the highest IgM sensitivity, but has low specificity. Euroimmun lacks IgM sensitivity. Mikrogen had a good overall performance, but had the lowest IgG specificity. Virion/Serion had variable performance with a low IgM specificity and the most borderline and cross-reactive results. CONCLUSIONS: Liaison and Mikrogen have similar performance to Biotrin's ELISA. Euroimmun lacks sensitivity and Virion/Serion produced many borderline and cross-reactive results.

Parvovirus b19 infection in pregnancy - A review.

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a widespread infection that may affect 1-5% of pregnant women, mainly with normal pregnancy outcome. Vertical transmission occurs in 33-51% of cases of maternal infection. B19V infection is an important cause of fetal morbidity (fetal anaemia and non-immune hydrops) and mortality, predominantly in the second trimester. Diagnosis of B19V infection requires a multi-method approach using mainly serology and PCR techniques. Severe fetal anaemia is managed with intrauterine transfusion with perinatal survival rates following intrauterine transfusion ranging from 67% to 85%. If fetal anaemia is mild, and considering that hydrops can spontaneously resolve, invasive therapy is not recommended and B19V complicated pregnancy may be non-invasively monitored by serial ultrasound examination and MCV-PSV measurements. As an alternative, intrauterine IVIG therapy has been described with successful treatment of fetal hydrops. No specific antiviral therapy or vaccine is presently available for B19V infection but efforts in the search for compounds inhibiting B19V replication are now being pursued. New virus-like-particle based parvovirus B19 vaccine candidates, produced by co-expressing VP2 and either wild-type VP1 or phospholipase-negative VP1 in a regulated ratio from a single plasmid inSaccharomyces cerevisiae have been developed and show sufficient promise to test in humans.