Parvovirus B19: its role in chronic arthritis

B19 infection-associated joint symptoms occur most frequently in adults, usually presenting as a self-limited, acute symmetric polyarthritis affecting the small joints of the hands, wrists, and knees. A small percentage of patients persist with chronic polyarthritis that mimics rheumatoid arthritis raising the question of whether B19 virus may have a role as a concomitant or precipitating factor in the pathogenesis of autoimmune conditions. Comprehensive and updated reviews address different aspects of human parvovirus infection. This article focuses on the evidence supporting the arthritogenic potential of the B19 virus and the proposed mechanisms that underlie it.