Chronic fatigue syndrome and arthralgia following parvovirus B19 infection

J Rheumatol. 2002 Mar;29(3):595-602.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the incidence of arthralgia and fatigue complicating B19 infection, along with associated B19 markers and autoantibodies.

Methods: We studied patients with acute B19 infection (n = 51), patients followed from the time of acute B19 infection (mean 22.5 mo) (n = 39), and healthy controls (n = 50). Clinical details were collected using a questionnaire and blood was tested for B19 markers and autoantibodies.

Results: Acute B19 arthralgia occurred in 31 patients and was associated with female sex (p = 0.007) and age > 20 years (p = 0.02). Acute B19 fatigue occurred in 8 patients and was not significantly associated with any marker. At followup, symptoms consisted of arthralgia (n = 5), arthralgia and fatigue (n = 6), fatigue (n = 7), lymphadenopathy (n = 1), and purpura due to thrombocytopenia (n = 2). Chronic B19 arthralgia was associated with persistent B19 viremia (p = 0.029). Comparison of the B19 followup group with the controls revealed a significantly increased prevalence of arthralgia (p = 0.0002), fatigue (p < 0.0001), and all other markers. Chronic B19 arthralgia was associated with both acute B19 arthralgia (p = 0.0168) and positive ANA at acute infection (p = 0.0043). Chronic B19 fatigue was associated with acute B19 fatigue (p = 0.011). Five patients fulfilled the Centers for Disease Control criteria for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and one of these was negative for serum anti-B19 IgG at followup by both Western blot and immunofluorescence. However, there was no characteristic pattern of B19 markers/autoantibodies in patients with B19 associated chronic fatigue.

Conclusion: CFS may follow acute parvovirus B19 infection; however, attribution of a case of CFS to B19 infection may be extremely difficult in the absence of serological confirmation of acute infection at fatigue onset.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Arthralgia / epidemiology*
  • Arthralgia / immunology
  • Arthralgia / virology*
  • Biomarkers
  • Convalescence
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / epidemiology*
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / immunology
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / virology*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parvoviridae Infections / epidemiology*
  • Parvoviridae Infections / immunology
  • Parvovirus B19, Human*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Rheumatoid Factor / blood
  • Sex Distribution
  • Viremia / complications
  • Viremia / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Biomarkers
  • Rheumatoid Factor