Increase in B19 viral load prior to relapse of anaemia in an AIDS patient with persistent B19 infection

Anaemia caused by persistent parvovirus B19 infection can be remitted by in travenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment. However. maintenance IVIG therap y is required in some AIDS patients as well as patients with combined immun odeficiency because of relapse of anaemia. We used a simple semi-quantitati ve polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to trace plasma B19 viral load af ter administration of IVIG. We noted that the rebound of B19 viral load occ urred 6 weeks prior to detection of anaemia. This method may be helpful in determining the interval of maintenance IVIG therapy. (C) 2001 The British Infection Society.