title: Detection of human parvovirus B19 DNA in 22% of 1815 cutaneous biopsies of a wide variety of dermatological conditions suggests viral persistence after primary infection and casts doubts on its pathogenic significance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) has been associated with a number of dermatological and systemic conditions, including myocarditis and autoimmune syndromes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency of B19V DNA detection in a large dermatopathology practice, and to characterize the histopathological patterns involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of B19V a total of 1815 skin biopsies pertaining to entities allegedly related to B19V, as well as cases suspected clinically of representing paraviral exanthemas. Immunohistochemical detection of B19V viral protein 2 (VP2) was performed in 92 PCR-positive cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  B19V DNA was found by PCR in 402 out of 1825 biopsy specimens (22%). VP2 protein was identified by immunohistochemistry in only three instances of papular purpuric 'gloves-and-socks' syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the virus has the capacity to persist in different tissues (including the skin) for long periods, it could represent merely an innocent bystander, so no pathogenetic significance can be inferred from the PCR positivity for B19V in the vast majority of dermatological conditions studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1335-0339
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santonja
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos-Briz
authors.affiliation: Dermatopathologie Friedrichshafen, Friedrichshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmedo
authors.affiliation: Dermatopathologie Friedrichshafen, Friedrichshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kutzner
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz/Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Requena
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000821:virology*; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral