Abstract

The clinical manifestation of Parvovirus B19 infection depends on the host's physiologic status and immunologic response. B19 infection can result in serious complications in renal transplant recipients. Participants in this study were 88 kidney recipients who regularly attended the nephrology clinics of a tertiary hospital in eastern Saudi Arabia. Viral-specific IgG and IgM antibodies were measured using a virus-like particle-based ELISA. IgM-positive samples were tested for viral DNA by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). This cohort of patients comprised 45 males and 43 females, of mean age 41 years (range 17 to 72). IgG antibodies to B19 were demonstrated in majority of patients (66/88; 75%). IgM showed lower frequency (18/88; 20.5%). Using RT-PCR for detection of parvovirus B18 viremia, all IgM-positive samples were found to be positive for parvovirus B19 viral DNA. Relatively more B19 seropositivity was found to be associated with receiving azathioprine (8 out of 30, 26.6 %) as compared with receiving mycophenolate mofetil (9 out of 58; 15.5 %). The seropositivity and viral DNA levels of parvovirus B19 was relatively high in the studied population of renal transplant recipients. Further studies are needed to assess the role of the immunosuppressive therapy on the infection of renal transplant recipients with parvovirus B19.

Key words: Parvovirus B19, renal transplant patients, antibodies, RT-PCR