SEVERE PARVOVIRUS B19 INFECTION IN AN IMM UNOCOMPETENT HEMOPHILIAC-A CHILD

Background. - B19 parvovirus is a widespread virus whose typical manif estations in immunocompetent children are erythema infectiosum, acute erythroblastopenia and fetal anemia. Case report. - An 11 year-old imm unocompetent patient with hemophilia A was referred for an hemorrhagic syndrome. Forty days after a pasteurized coagulation factor concentra tes treatment, and after 12 days of treatment with solvent/detergent f actor VIII concentrates, he developed fever, consciousness disorders, pancytopenia, liver cytolysis and probably minor haemophagocytic syndr ome, associated with human pantovirus B19 infection. His clinical slat e returned to normal within 15 days. A retrospective study revealed th at the patient had received every day for 12 days, one parvovirus B19 polymerase chain reaction positive batch before the occurrence of symp toms. Conclusion. - This case highlights the possibility of severe par vovirus B19 infection transmitted by clotting factors prepared from la rge pools of plasma. The use of recombinant factors would allow to red uce human virus contamination, even if immune risk has to be more accu rately assessed.