Acute parvovirus B19 infection: analysis of 46 patients

Introduction: Parvovirus B19 (PVB19) infection has a high incidence and worldwide distribution. It has a broad clinical spectrum, with skin, joint and haematological manifestations being the most common. The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiology and clinical-analytical manifestations of acute PVB19 infection.

Patients and methods: A retrospective study of patients with a positive IgM serology for PVB19 (10 years). Forty-six patients were included and their demographic, clinical and analytical characteristics were analyzed.

Results: Primary infection was most prevalent in women (ratio 2.2:1) aged 41 (mean age). Joint involvement was the most common manifestation (65%). Skin abnormalities were observed in more than half of patients (24 cases): rash (28%), megalerythema (9%), "gloves and socks" involvement (6.5%), periflexural rash (4%) and oedema (4%). Anaemia was the main haematological alteration (35%). The symptoms were self-limiting and resolved in 1-2 weeks in most patients.

Conclusions: Although there is a variable clinical spectrum, polyarthralgias and generalized maculopapular rash with fever and anaemia are the typical and most frequent manifestations of primary infection by PVB19 and are usually self-limiting.

CITATION Med Clin (Barc). 2020 Jul 10;155(1):26-29. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2019.12.014. Epub 2020 Mar 3.