[Parvovirus B19 primo-infection and cold agglutinins]

Parvovirus B19 infection is frequent. Primary infection leads to diverse skin manifestations including the recently described gloves-and-socks papulopurpura.

A patient presented with a papulopurpuric eruption on the nose, hands, feet and perineum with cheilitis and high-grade fever. Parvovirus B19 serology showed characteristic IgG on the 15th day after the initial eruption demonstrating the seroconversion. Cold agglutinins were positive during the eruption and negative after regression.

The gloves-and-socks papulopurpura syndrome was initially described in 1990. Since that time 20 cases have been reported. In 7 cases, primary parvovirus B19 infection was proven and viral infections were suspected in the others (measles, coxsackie B6, hepatitis B, Epstein-Barr virus). Our case evidenced here to undescribed skin manifestations and the development of cold agglutinins. The presence of cold agglutinins at eruption could explain the acral localizations observed in this syndrome.