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Severe parvovirus B19 encephalitis after renal transplantation

M Laurenz1, B Winkelmann, J Roigas

  • 1Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.

Pediatric Transplantation
|November 14, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Human parvovirus B19 can cause severe illness in transplant patients. In this case, a kidney transplant recipient developed encephalitis and anemia, likely from the donated organ, and recovered after immunosuppression was reduced.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Nephrology

Background:

  • Human parvovirus B19 commonly causes erythema infectiosum (fifth disease) in children.
  • Immunocompromised individuals are susceptible to chronic parvovirus B19 infections, leading to hyporegenerative anemia.

Observation:

  • A nine-year-old boy developed seizures and encephalitis post-renal transplantation.
  • The patient exhibited anemia, high parvovirus B19 viral load, and seroconversion.
  • The donated organ was identified as the likely source of parvovirus B19 infection.

Findings:

  • Parvovirus B19 infection was confirmed in a post-renal transplant patient presenting with neurological symptoms.
  • High viral loads and anemia were key indicators of active infection.
  • Reduction in immunosuppressive therapy led to clinical recovery and normalization of red blood cell count.

Implications:

  • Parvovirus B19 should be considered in the differential diagnosis of seizures in solid organ transplant recipients.
  • This case highlights the potential for organ transmission of parvovirus B19.
  • Management strategies may involve adjusting immunosuppression in transplant patients with parvovirus B19 infection.

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