RESEARCH - Parvovirus B19 and immune disorders

June 23, 2008

Cell Biochem Funct. 2007 Nov-Dec;25(6):639-41.

Parvovirus B19 and immune disorders.

Pugliese A, Beltramo T, Torre D, Roccatello D.

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Clinical Microbiology

University of Turin, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Turin, Italy.

Parvovirus B19 (PVB19) is the causative agent of erythema infectiosum

and sometimes the infection is correlated with severe haematological

complications, or in pregnancy to fetalis hydrops. Moreover some

authors suggest an infection involvement in some autoimmune diseases.

To this purpose we evaluated seroprevalence for PVB19 in following the

autoimmune or dysreactive pathologies: systemic lupus erythematosus

(SLE), cryoglobulinemia, idiopathic systemic--ANCA associated

vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the case of SLE, 31/42

patients were positive for PVB19 versus 21/42 of blood donors, as

controls subjects (73.8% vs. 50%; significant difference for p <

0.05), moreover a significant difference for p < 0.001 was detected

comparing mean titre values of IgGs against PVB19 of two groups (UI

1.94 +/- 0.90 vs. 1.24 +/- 0.80). In contrast no significant

differences were found in the case of percent seropositivity of

cryoglobulinemic subjects (37/57 = 64.9%, the majority of whom were

HCV+) in comparison with the control group (50%). However mean units

index (UI) was 1.63 +/- 0.81; p = 0.019 versus the control group.

Similar result, with regard to the percentage of seropositivity, was

found for vasculitis (9/17 = 52.9%). The data reported here can

confirm a possible correlation between PVB19 prior infection and SLE

and also suggest possible implications in the case of

cryoglobulinemia. In fact, most of our patients were affected by a

nephropathic or systemic form of HCV+ cryoglobulinemia and the

presence of other infective cofactors could be suggestive in the

evolution of this clinical situation.

PMID: 16917962

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Not an MD

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