Detection of parvovirus B19 in skin biopsy, serum, and bone marrow of a patient with fever, rash, and polyarthritis followed by pneumonia, pericardial effusion, and hepatitis

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1996 Dec;15(12):954-7. doi: 10.1007/BF01690517.

Abstract

A previously healthy 33-year-old male patient presented with fever, rash and polyarthritis. Subsequently, he developed pleuropneumonitis, pericardial effusion and hepatitis. The diagnosis of parvovirus B19 infection was based on the detection of parvovirus DNA by PCR in a skin biopsy, bone marrow cells and serum. The patient had high parvovirus IgG antibody titres but remained negative for IgM at a three month follow-up, suggesting persistence of the virus or reinfection. It is concluded that detection of viral DNA is needed to verify a parvovirus B19 infection even in an immunologically healthy host.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Bone Marrow / virology*
  • Erythema Infectiosum / blood
  • Erythema Infectiosum / complications*
  • Erythema Infectiosum / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis / complications
  • Hepatitis / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis / virology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin M / analysis
  • Male
  • Parvovirus B19, Human / immunology
  • Parvovirus B19, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Parvovirus B19, Human / physiology
  • Pericardial Effusion / complications
  • Pericardial Effusion / diagnosis
  • Pericardial Effusion / virology
  • Pleuropneumonia / complications
  • Pleuropneumonia / virology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Recurrence
  • Skin / virology*
  • Virus Latency

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M