Human parvovirus B19 (B19) has been shown to be the cause of erthema infectiousum (EI). Recently the various clinical manifestations with B19 infection are coming to light. The relationship between B19 and anaphylactoid purpura (Scholein-Henoch purpura: SHP) was investigated in a retrospective study.
There were sixteen patients (male 9, female 7, average age 6.0 ± 1.7) who were diagnosed as SHP. Serum specimens were used in the present study. Specific IgM and IgG were assayed by enzyme immunoassay, B19 DNA was assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Five of the sixteen patients were positive for B19 DNA assayed by PCR, three were positive for B19 IgM in the acute phase. Kidney involvement appeared in one case with B19 infection and in two cases without infection. Abdominal involvement appeared in one case with infection and in three cases without.<P></P>In this study, five of the sixteen patients had evidence of recent B19 infection by the existence of antibodies and PCR method. In conclusion, it is necessary to investigate the B19 infectin with or without EI in the cases of SHP.