Abstract
Human parvovirus B19 is a frequent etiologic agent causing erythema infectiosum in
children. It has recently been suggested that parvovirus B19 may be latent after infection
and cause reactive infections especially in immunosuppressed patients with hematological
problems. In this study, we aimed to investigate the parvovirus B19 immunoglobulin
M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) seropositivity rates of patients evaluated in a
pediatric hematology clinic. We retrospectively screened the laboratory results of
parvovirus B19 IgM and IgG antibody assays of children less than 18 years, who consulted
pediatric in-and-outpatient clinics between 2013 and 2016. Parvovirus B19 IgM and
IgG antibodies were investigated in serum samples by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay method in the Medical Microbiology Laboratory. Parvovirus B19 IgM antibodies
were detected in 109 of 602 patients attending pediatric hematology clinics (18.1%).
Parvovirus B19 IgG antibody was detected in 244 of 952 patients attending pediatric
hematology clinics (25.6%). Parvovirus B19 IgM and IgG positivity in samples from
pediatric in-and-outpatient clinics other than pediatric hematology were 2.8% and
35.7%, respectively. Parvovirus IgM and IgG positivity in serum samples sent from
the pediatric hematology clinic and outpatients was statistically significant compared
with those sent from pediatric clinics other than pediatric hematology (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0008, respectively). The higher detection rate of serum parvovirus B19 IgM positivity
in patients under the follow-up of pediatric hematology clinics suggests that immune
suppression-related viral reinfection or persistence may occur in these patients.
Keywords
parvovirus B19 - IgM - IgG - pediatric patient
