Parvovirus B19-associated haemophagocytic syndrome in healthy adults

Between August 1992 and August 1994 we found seven adult patients with haemophagocytic syndrome associated with human parvovirus B19 (HPV) infection. Five of the patients were previously healthy but the other two had underlying immunosuppressive disease; the former five patients recovered spontaneously without any treatment. Eight cases of HPV-associated haemophagocytic syndrome have been reported; six of them were children and the remainder were adults with immunosuppressive disease or haematological disorder. Our study suggests that HPV is not a rare cause of virus-associated haemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS). Moreover, HPV-associated haemophagocytic syndrome could occur more frequently than previously thought, not only in children and adults with underlying disease but also in adults, even in good health.