Unusual case of Parvovirus B19 infection: encephalitis, nephritis and aplastic anemia

Abstract

Infection by parvovirus B19 is usually presented with exanthema, aplastic anemia in patients with hematologic disorders or with hydrops fetalis. There have been other clinical manifestations though they have not been definitively established due to the scarcity of clinical cases, to the uncertainty of its etiopathogenesis and to difficulties with diagnosis techniques. We are presenting a clinical case of encephalitis, aplastic crisis, arthralgia and nephritis, that was diagnosed with PCR in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and serum.

The patient received antihypertensive treatment and transfusion of hemoderivatives and platelets. She was treated with immunoglobulin IV and her clinical evolution was good. The association of a typical case with less common symptomatology and the detection of PCR to parvovirus B10 in CSF and serum suggests a higher causality in the association between an infection by parvovirus B19 and encephalitis and nephritis. The reviewed literature recommends the early detection of parvovirus B19 infection in patients with encephalitis.