Parvovirus B19 infection in patients with congenital blood coagulation disorders

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of Parvovirus B19 infection in a group of patients affected by congenital coagulation disorders and its association with epidemiological aspects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have analyzed a group of 50 patients (median age 28) diagnosed with haemophilia or any other congenital coagulation disorder and 111 healthy non-transfused controls (median age 30) for IgG and IgM antibodies to Parvovirus B19 (Dako A/S, Glostrup, Dinamarca). Other issues analysed were HIV coinfection, the use of virally inactivated or non-inactivated plasma products and clinical symptoms of the infection. RESULTS: 84% of the patients (93.3% of those previously transfused) and 60.3% of the controls subjects showed IgG antibodies against Parvovirus B19. None of them had specific IgM antibodies. Five patients (all of them seronegative) had never been exposed to any plasma derivative and 11 were HIV-positive. The differences found between the prevalence of parvoviral infection in patients and controls are statistically significant, but those differences are only confirmed in younger patients (< 30) when age groups are compared. However, the severity 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: Haemophilic patients of any age are exposed to a higher risk of Parvovirus B19 infection than general population, although this infection had no clinical relevance in our study. The use of virally inactivated factor concentrates or the severity of the haemostatic disorder has no influence on this infectious risk.