Clinical illness due to parvovirus B19 infection after infusion of solvent/detergent-treated pooled plasma.
BACKGROUND
Lipid-enveloped viruses such as HIV, HBV, and HCV can be inactivated by treatment with solvents and detergents. HAV and human parvovirus B19 lack lipid envelopes and are not inactivated. Solvent/detergent-treated pooled plasma (S/D plasma) contains neutralizing antibodies, but it is not known whether the parvovirus B19 antibody content is sufficient to prevent transmission of the disease. A patient is described who developed a clinical illness due to parvovirus B19 infection after the infusion of S/D plasma.


METHODS
A 36-year-old woman with myasthenia gravis underwent five plasma exchange procedures from January 15 to January 25, 1999, using albumin, except for 5 units of SD plasma given because of a low fibrinogen level. Four of the 5 units were implicated in a recall after high levels of parvovirus B19 DNA were found in several lots. Two weeks after the infusion, the patient developed fatigue, a rash, and severe polyarthralgias. Parvovirus B19 IgG and IgM antibody titers were consistent with an acute infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinically apparent parvovirus B19 infection can follow the use of S/D plasma that contains high levels of parvovirus B19 DNA.
Koenigbauer
U F
UF
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and of Neurology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA. koeni007@tc.umn.edu
Eastlund
T
T
Day
J W
JW
D000328:Adult; D003902:Detergents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human; D010949:Plasma / Q000187:drug effects; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012997:Solvents / Q000494:pharmacology
D003902:Detergents; D012997:Solvents