HUMAN PARVOVIRUS B19 INFECTION ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE HEPATITIS

Background Human parvovirus (HPV) B19 infection produces a range manif estations including erythema infectiosum in children. Here we describe seven children who had acute hepatitis with HPV B19 infection. Method s Hepatic dysfunction was noted in three children referred to our hosp ital during the course of erythema infectiosum caused by HPV B19 infec tion diagnosed by ELISA and PCR. The role of HPV B19 in the pathogenes is of hepatic involvement was investigated retrospectively by PCR assa y of stored serum samples from 773 patients admitted to our hospital. Findings 15 patients admitted to our hospital from January, 1991, to J une, 1992, were HPV B19 DNA positive, of whom four had acute hepatitis of unknown origin. These four patients were aged between 7 months and 5 years. Of the seven patients, infection with hepatitis A, B, or C v iruses or Epstein-Barr virus was ruled out in six by virological exami nations. Interpretation Epidemiological evidence suggests that HPV B19 can be the cause of acute hepatitis.