HUMAN PARVOVIRUS-B19 INFECTION IN BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION PATIENTS

We report the results of a survey of parvovirus B19 infection carried out with the aim to evaluate the frequency and the role of this infect ion in bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients, as it is known that B1 9 virus can persist in clinical circumstances of immunodeficiency. Fif ty-one patients subjected to BMT in the Bone Marrow Transplantation Ce nter of Florence were enrolled in this study. Immunological and virolo gical indications of B19 infection were tested weekly during the stay in hospital. A high rate of seroconversion or B19 antibody rise was ob served, but, in absence of B19 IgM or B19 DNA presence, this result se ems to be attributable to a passive immunization, rather than to a rec ent viral infection. In these 51 patients, as well as in 59 others not included in this study, clinical manifestations imputable to B19 infe ction have never been observed. It is possible that the isolation meas ures and the intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) administration may con tribute in preventing B19 infection in the BMT recipients at least unt il the hospital discharge. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.