[Parvoviruses as pathogenic agents in man].

Since 1981 an increasing number of human parvovirus infections have been reported. There is now clear evidence that parvovirus B19 is the causative agent of erythema infectiosum (fifth disease). Further clinical situations associated with this virus include aplastic crisis in patients with hemolytic anemia and acute and persistent arthropathies preferentially occurring in adult women. Transplacental infection during pregnancy may result in hydrops foetalis, intrauterine death and spontaneous abortion. Additional, thus far barely characterized parvoviruses have been isolated from individuals with enteritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The present review summarizes today's knowledge of the biological properties and relevance of human parvoviruses as pathogens. The potentialities and limitations of laboratory diagnosis in parvovirus infections are discussed.