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Title: Human Parvovirus B19 Persists In Adult Livers

URL: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/85009612/START

Journal of Medical Virology 2001;65:395-401. "Evidence for persistence of parvovirus B19 DNA in livers of adults"
10/11/2001 10:32:56 AM
By Mark Greener

Human parvovirus B19 appears to persist in the livers of anti-B19 seropositive adults, although the pathogenic significance is not clear. Previous studies have shown that human parvovirus B19 may contribute to the pathogenesis of acute fulminant liver failure among children. In light of these findings, researchers from the University of Bonn, Germany, quantified the viruses' prevalence among adults. The authors examined livers removed from 43 randomly selected adults undergoing liver transplantation for various reasons. The researchers also examined pre-operative sera from 40 of these patients. Sera from 35 patients were seropositive for anti-B19 immunoglobulin (Ig) G. Only one was positive for anti-B19 IgM. B19 DNA was detected in the livers of 15 patients who were seropositive for anti-B19 IgG. Livers from two of the three patients of unknown anti-B19 antibody status also expressed B19 DNA. The initial transplant of an anti-B19 IgG-positive patient who underwent a second liver transplantation also showed B19 DNA. However, this patients' original liver was negative. Secondly, researchers examined liver and bone marrow samples from 23 randomly selected, autopsied adults. Seventeen of the 22 serum specimens were positive for anti-B19 IgG and all were negative for anti-B19 IgM antibody. The authors detected B19 DNA in four of the 17 livers from people who were positive for anti-B19 IgG. Three also expressed B19 DNA in their bone marrow. The authors comment that this is the first study to show that the livers of adults who are seropositive for anti-B19 frequently express viral DNA. This finding suggests that B19 infections tend to persist in the liver. However, the authors comment that further research will need to ascertain the biological and clinical significance of chronic hepatic B19 infection.

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/85009612/START

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