Parvovirus B19-specific DNA in bone marrow from B19 arthropathy patients: evidence for B19 virus persistence.

To determine if B19 infection persists in patients with chronic B19 arthropathy, acute B19 infection in adults was documented by IgM serology. Bone marrow aspirates were obtained 24-42 months after acute infection in 4 patients who developed chronic joint symptoms. DNA from bone marrow aspirates was amplified by polymerase chain reaction by using B19-specific DNA sequences in the viral capsid gene and probing with B19-specific oligonucleotides in Southern analysis. B19-specific DNA sequences were detected in all 4 chronic arthropathy patients compared with 0 of 7 anti-B19 IgM-, IgG- and 0 of 6 anti-B19 IgM-, IgG+ normal bone marrow donors. Three patients with serologically proven acute B19 infection and acute but nonchronic joint symptoms had B19 DNA detected in bone marrow aspirates 2-18 months after infection. These findings suggest that B19 arthropathy is associated with persistence of either B19 virus or select B19 DNA sequences.