TRANSFUSION-TRANSMITTED HUMAN PARVOVIRUS B19 INFECTION IN A THALASSEMIC PATIENT

Background: Human parvovirus (HPV) B19 infection has been shown to be transmissible by clotting factor concentrates, most often resulting in asymptomatic seroconversion. So far, no case of B19 transmission due to single-donor transfusion has been documented. Case Report: A case o f transfusion-transmitted HPV B19 infection in a 22-year-old female th alassemia major patient is described. She presented with an aplastic c risis; this was followed 1 week later by transitory heart failure and acute tricuspid incompetence. The echocardiogram revealed a grade III tricuspid regurgitation and a floating vegetation on the atrial face o f the tricuspid lateral leaflet. The tricuspid regurgitation and veget ation spontaneously disappeared within 15 days. Blood cultures for bac teria were repeatedly negative. IgM anti-HPV B19 seroconversion was do cumented in the acute phase. B19 DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction and remained detectable up to 4 months after diagnosis. High- titer IgM anti-HPV and B19 DNA were also found in serum samples collec ted at the time of donation from one of the donors of the blood transf used before the onset of clinical symptoms. Conclusion: This case docu ments the transmission of HPV B19 by the transfusion of 1 red cell uni t and the occurrence of possible transient cardiac involvement in this infectious complication.