MANAGEMENT OF PERSISTENT B19 PARVOVIRUS INFECTION IN AIDS

An HIV+ 26-year-old white man with a CD4 count of 0.06 x 10(9)/l was f ound to have red blood cell aplasia secondary to B19 parvovirus infect ion. Regular infusions of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) were begun and resulted in marked reticulocytosis and correction of anaemia. The patient has been followed for over 4 years and has become anaemic and reticulocytopenic whenever IVIG was interrupted. Serial dot blot anal ysis of the patient's sera for B19 parvovirus DNA showed absence of DN A immediately following IVIG treatments but reappearance within 3-6 we eks. Regular IVIG was effective in controlling but not eradicating B19 parvovirus infection in this HIV+ patient.