PARVOVIRUS B19 INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH CONGENITAL COAGULOPATHIES

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of Parvo virus B19 infection in a group of patients affected by congenital coag ulation disorders and its association with epidemiological aspects. PA TIENTS AND METHODS: We have analyzed a group of 50 patients (median ag e 28) diagnosed with haemophilia or any other congenital coagulation d isorders and 111 healthy non-transfused controls (median age 30) for I gG and IgM antibodies to Parvovirus B19 (Dako A/S, Glostrup, Dinamarca ). Other issues analysed were HIV coinfection, the use of virally inac tivated or non-inactivated plasma products and clinical symptoms of th e infection. RESULTS: 84% of the patients (93.3% of those previously t ransfused) and 60.3% of the controls subjects showed IgG antibodies ag ainst Parvovirus B19. None of them had especific IgM antibodies. Five patients (all of them seronegative) had never been exposed to any plas ma derivative and 11 were HIV-positive. The differences found between the prevalence of parvoviral infection in patients and controls are st atistically significant, but those differences are only confirmed in y ounger patients (< 30) when age groups are compared. However, the seve rity of the haemostatic disorder, the type of plasma products infused or HIV coinfection had no influence on prevalence rates. The infection was clinically asymptomatic in all the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Haemophili c patients of any age are exposed to a higher risk of Parvovirus b19 i nfection than general population, although this infection had no clini cal relevance in our study. The use of virally inactivated factor conc entrates or the severity of the haemostatic disorder has no influence on this infectious risk.