Life-threatening human parvovirus B19 infection transmitted by intravenous immune globulin.
Infection of human parvovirus B19 (B19) is usually a self-limiting febrile illness, but can sometimes be life-threatening under certain circumstances, such as aplastic crisis in patients with haemolytic anaemia, hydrops fetalis in pregnant women and fulminant hepatitis. B19 can be transmitted through respiratory secretions, transplacentally and by transfusion of blood or blood products. In the present case, administration of intravenous immune globulin (i.v.Ig) transmitted B19 infection and consequently caused pure red cell aplasia and aggravation of hepatitis to fulminant hepatitis. Our case may raise important questions as to the safety of i.v.Ig and possible contamination by B19.
Hayakawa
Fumihiko
F
First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. fhayakawa@ucdavis.edu
Imada
Kazumi
K
Towatari
Masayuki
M
Saito
Hidehiko
H
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission*; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug; D012010:Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous