Severe parvovirus B19 infection in an immunocompetent hemophiliac A child

Background. - B19 parvovirus is a widespread virus whose typical manifestations in immunocompetent children are erythema infectiosum, acute erythroblastopenia and fetal anemia. Case report. - An 11 year-old immunocompetent patient with hemophilia A was referred for an hemorrhagic syndrome. Forty days after a pasteurized coagulation factor concentrates treatment, and after 12 days of treatment with solvent/detergent factor VIII concentrates, he developed fever, consciousness disorders, pancytopenia, liver cytolysis and probably minor haemophagocytic syndrome, associated with human pantovirus B19 infection. His clinical slate returned to normal within 15 days. A retrospective study revealed that the patient had received every day for 12 days, one parvovirus B19 polymerase chain reaction positive batch before the occurrence of symptoms. Conclusion. - This case highlights the possibility of severe parvovirus B19 infection transmitted by clotting factors prepared from large pools of plasma. The use of recombinant factors would allow to reduce human virus contamination, even if immune risk has to be more accurately assessed.