HUMAN PARVOVIRUS B19 INFECTION IS NOT FOLLOWED BY INFLAMMATORY JOINT DISEASE DURING LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 54 PATIENTS

Objective To investigate whether recent human parvovirus B19 (B19) inf ection provokes inflammatory arthritis, we assessed the outcome of 54 patients with recent B19 infection who were referred to the Department of Rheumatology. Methods Consecutive patients referred between 1985 a nd 1995 and found to have a recent B19 infection were studied retrospe ctively by sending a questionnaire and, if necessary by physical exami nation. Results In the acute phase of B19 infection, all patients had arthralgia and many also complained of myalgia and malaise. Arthritis was found in 61% of the patients, skin rash in 72% and fever in 64%. E xcept for the arthralgia and malaise, most of the symptoms resolved ra pidly. After a mean followup of 5 years (SD 2.9 yrs.) none of the pati ents reported persistence of joint swelling or restricted motion. Conc lusion None of the 54 patients with recent B19 infection developed chr onic arthritis.