Prevalence of parvovirus B19 DNA in bone marrow of patients with haematological disorders

Patients with haematological disorders (n=100) were examined for prevalence of parvovirus B19 DNA in the bone marrow and serum, irrespective of B19-re lated symptoms. B19 DNA was studied using 2 nested PCRs and the serum sampl es were further analysed with B19-specific IgG, IgM and avidity as well as seroreactivity against linear and conformational epitopes of the B19 VP2 an tigen. The Latter assays specify whether the IgG antibody response represen ts acute or past B19 infection. B19 DNA was detected in 4 of the 100 bone m arrow samples, whereas all the serum samples were B19 DNA negative. None of the 4 B19 DNA positive patients had symptoms typical of B19 infection and serology showed past infection. Furthermore, 2 were still B19 DNA positive in bone marrow more than 1 y after the first sample indicating virus persis tence. The seroprevalence for B19 IgG was 59% and 2 patients mere B19 IgM p ositive. Thus, presence of B19 DNA in bone marrow from patients with haemat ological disorders is not a general finding in seropositive patients. B19 D NA can persist in bone marrow, but in our material this finding showed no c lear correlation with symptomatic B19 infection.