Parvovirus B19 infection associated with myocarditis following adult cardiac transplantation

A 56-year-old woman underwent an uneventful cardiac transplantation due to dilated cardiomyopathy. One week later the patient developed clinical and h istological signs of myocarditis. We report for the first time a case of my ocarditis in an adult heart transplant recipient, possibly induced by parvo virus B19, as evidenced by the finding of specific IgM in serum and specifi c DNA in the myocardial cells. Furthermore, this is the first time parvovir us B19 DNA has been observed in the myocardium of an adult. In conclusion, parvovirus B19 should he recognized as a potential pathogen causing myocard itis in heart transplant recipients. In order to establish a definite and r apid diagnosis, a search for specific IgM should ht supplemented with PCR i nvestigations of serum acid myocardial biopsies when available.