[Parvovirus B19 as infectious agent in infants].

OBJECTIVE

Since its casual discovery and implication as a human pathogen that provokes transitory aplastic crises and infectious erythema, the B19 parvovirus has been related to a wide spectrum of diseases. To better understand this clinical diversity, we reviewed the cases of a serology positive infants admitted to the hospital.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

From January 1992 to June 1995, all clinical charts were reviewed and we obtained 15 patients that had positive IgM antibodies by immunoenzyme assay.

RESULTS

The mean age was 12.2 months. No sex differences were seen. The incidence was higher in winter months. Over 50% of the patients belong to the last year studied. Clinical findings included 5 cases of arthritis (one juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, one polyarticular syndrome and 3 nonspecific forms), hematology disturbances in 5 cases (1 case of erythrophagocytosis, 1 of thrombocytopenic purpura, 2 of anemia and 1 chronic neutropenia), 3 cases of febrile syndrome, 1 liver dysfunction, and 1 neuromyelitis. Complementary exams were not significant and follow-up in all infants was satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONS

The B19 parvovirus, a poorly understood virus, is related to many clinical situations where is true significance remains unknown.