title: Postpartum lupus erythematosus associated with parvovirus B19 infection.
abstract: We describe postpartum onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with parvovirus B19 infection in a mother presenting with fever, polyarthritis, erythema, and multiorgan involvement. B19 infection was revealed by detection of B19 DNA and IgM antibodies. In addition, our patient showed low CD4+ (384 x 10(6)/l) and CD8+ (213 x 10(6)/l) T cells, high immunoglobulin values (23.77 g/l), hypocomplementemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and anemia. Her daughter had rash associated with increasingly high B19 IgG levels and transient antinuclear and anti-ds-DNA antibodies, suggesting that both development of SLE and active B19 infection occurred in pregnancy and B19 was transmitted prenatally. A 2 year followup showed persisting polyarthritis in the mother and atopy in the daughter.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Institute, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nigro
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piazze
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taliani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzocco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cassinotti
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Cosmi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000821:virology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001323:Autoantibodies