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Parvovirus B19 Myocarditis: Looking Beyond the Heart
Jaume Izquierdo-Blasco1, María Teresa Salcedo Allende2, Maria Gemma Codina Grau3
1Pediatric Critical Care Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Summary
Human parvovirus B19, a common cause of pediatric myocarditis, can lead to severe disseminated disease and heart failure. This case highlights multiorgan involvement and high mortality in a child due to parvovirus B19 infection.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathology
Background:
- Human parvovirus B19 is the leading cause of pediatric myocarditis.
- While typically causing a mild viral illness, it can lead to severe, disseminated disease with cardiac tropism.
Observation:
- A 2-year-old patient presented with fulminating acute myocarditis.
- Autopsy revealed multiorgan involvement attributed to parvovirus B19 infection.
Findings:
- Histological and immunophenotypic analysis confirmed parvovirus B19 as the cause.
- Findings included medullary aplasia, lymphocytic myocarditis, cholestatic and autoimmune hepatitis, lymphadenitis, hemophagocytosis, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
Implications:
- Parvovirus B19 can cause severe, multisystemic disease in children beyond typical myocarditis.
- This case underscores the importance of considering parvovirus B19 in pediatric fulminant myocarditis and disseminated infections.
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