Human parvovirus B19 and arthritis.

Parvovirus B19 has different clinical manifestations dependent on age and sex. In children it is usually a mild febrile exanthematous illness but in adults 60% of women and 30% of men have an arthropathy which may be severe and persistent. The pathogenesis of this arthropathy is not known. Our studies establishing the clinical manifestations of parvovirus infection and examining their pathogenesis are reviewed.