Human parvovirus B19 infection in organ transplant recipients

We report a 61-yr-old kidney transplant recipient with human Parvovirus B19 (HPV B19) infection presenting as a severe pancytopenia 1 month after tran splantation. Bone marrow aspiration revealed severe erythroid hypoplasia wi th giant and dystrophic proerythroblasts. Bone marrow cells were positive f or HPV B19 DNA detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Pancytopenia re solved shortly after administration of intravenous immunoglobulins. Nineteen cases of HPV B19 infection in organ transplant recipients have bee n so far reported in the literature. Immunocompromised patients should be c onsidered at risk from developing symptomatic HPV B19 infections. In such p atients, specific anti-HPV B19 IgM and IgG antibodies may be absent or tran sient and therefore their negativity cannot rule out the diagnosis of HPV B 19 infestation. Bone marrow smear morphological findings may suggest the di agnosis but testing for viral DNA by PCR is mandatory. Patients may spontan eously recover. However, since specific anti-viral therapy is not currently available, intravenous immunoglobulin administration appears to be the mor e efficacious treatment.