High Prevalence of Parvovirus B19 IgG Antibody among Hemophilia Patients in Center for Special Diseases, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Human parvovirus B19, the causative agent of fifth disease in childhood, is non-enveloped DNA virus and resistant to many physicochemical agents. B19 is a potential risk to hemophiliac patients receiving blood products. To determine the prevalence of the corresponding antibody in patients with hemophilia A or B or Von Will brand’s disease (VWBD), we tested 180 hemophilia patients aged 1-45 years for anti B19 IgG. This work was descriptive, cross-sectional study. The results were compared with those of 400 age-matched controls, male blood donors and male children (18-45 and 3-17 years of age, respectively). The overall prevalence of B19 IgG in the hemophilia patients was 74% (133/180), and in the controls 56.5% (226/400, P<0.001). The significant difference in prevalence of B19 IgG between hemophiliacs and healthy persons demonstrated that there was a high risk of transmission of parvovirus B19 through plasma- derived clotting products. These observations demonstrate that parvovirus B19 is frequently transmitted in blood products. Existing virus-inactivating methods do not prevent transmission.