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Life-threatening human parvovirus B19 infection transmitted by intravenous immune globulin.
Br J Haematol. 2002 Sep;118(4):1187-9.

Life-threatening human parvovirus B19 infection transmitted by intravenous immune globulin.

Hayakawa F, Imada K, Towatari M, Saito H.

First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Infection of human parvovirus B19 (B19) is usually a self-limiting febrile illness, but can sometimes be life-threatening under certain circumstances, such as aplastic crisis in patients with haemolytic anaemia, hydrops fetalis in pregnant women and fulminant hepatitis. B19 can be transmitted through respiratory secretions, transplacentally and by transfusion of blood or blood products. In the present case, administration of intravenous immune globulin (i.v.Ig) transmitted B19 infection and consequently caused pure red cell aplasia and aggravation of hepatitis to fulminant hepatitis. Our case may raise important questions as to the safety of i.v.Ig and possible contamination by B19.

Publication Types:
  • Case Reports

PMID: 12199806 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]