Parvovirus: a review

Infections caused by human parvovirus B19 result in a variety of clinical manifestations, the severity of which depends on the immune and hematologic status of the host. Arthropathy is known to occur in children and adults with acute parvovirus B19 infection. In adults, the arthropathy is common and is usually brief and self-limited, although a chronic arthropathy due to HPV B19 infections can occur rarely. It is important to differentiate between such chronic infection and RA, because of the similar clinical manifestations and different modes of treatment. An association between HPV B19 and other rheumatologic diseases such as vasculitis needs further research before confirmation is possible.