Objective: To explore the relationship between parvovirus B19 infection and congenital heart disease (CHD), and distribution of parvovirus B 19 gene in cardiac tissue.
Methods: We conducted a case controls study investigating the presence of B19 gene in cardiac biopsy tissue of 37 cases of CHD, 8 cases of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and 20 cases of non-CHD with nested polymerase chain reaction (Nested PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH).
Results: Among 37 CHD patients, 6 were B19 DNA positive in cardiac tissue (18.92%), while in control group, including 8 RHD patients (autopsy specimens) and 20 non-CHD patients, the B19 gene were all negative, there was a significant difference of B19 gene presence between CHD group and control group (P = 0.0421). ISH of B19 gene in cardiac tissue were positive in 4 CHD patients and all were negative in control group. The B19 gene was found locating in the nucleus of cardiac cell by ISH.
Conclusions: Parvovirus B19 infection correlated with CHD. Since B19 gene was mainly found in the cardiac cell nucleus, maybe it influenced the regulation of gene expression and affected the development of heart with the result of CHD.