Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for severe arthritis associated with human parvovirus B19 infection

J Infect Chemother. 2008 Oct;14(5):377-82. doi: 10.1007/s10156-008-0636-x. Epub 2008 Oct 21.

Abstract

Symptoms caused by acute human parvovirus B19 (HPV-B19) infection can vary considerably, from asymptomatic to severely symptomatic. A 39-year-old Japanese woman complained of sudden, severe arthralgia with edematous limbs coincident with an outbreak of HPV-B19 infection at the elementary school attended by her daughter. A diagnosis of acute HPV-B19 infection was made by the detection of serum antibody to HPV-B19 IgM and HPV-B19 DNA. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral synovitis of the cubital joints. The patient was immunocompetent and suffered from severe arthralgia associated with persistent HPV-B19 viremia for more than 4 months after the diagnosis of acute HPV-B19 infection. The administration of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin resulted in remission, with little change in the serum HPV-B19 DNA level. Even in our immunocompetent patient, severe and prolonged arthritis was found to be associated with persistent viremia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arthritis, Infectious / therapy*
  • Arthritis, Infectious / virology
  • Bone and Bones / diagnostic imaging
  • Elbow
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Parvoviridae Infections / diagnosis
  • Parvoviridae Infections / therapy*
  • Parvoviridae Infections / virology
  • Parvovirus B19, Human / genetics
  • Parvovirus B19, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Radionuclide Imaging

Substances

  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous