The Use of Monoclonal Antibody R92F6 and Polymerase Chain Reaction to Confirm the Presence of Parvovirus B19 in Bone Marrow Specimens of Patients With Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Abstract Background.—Parvovirus B19 infection is a cause of chronic anemia and red cell aplasia in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and in other immunocompromised hosts. Anemia in AIDS patients has a multifactorial etiology, with parvovirus B19 infection being an infrequent but nevertheless treatable cause. Therapy with intravenous immune globulin can result in rapid improvement of parvovirus-induced anemia. This treatment is expensive, therefore accurate and rapid confirmation of parvovirus infection is important in providing appropriate and cost-effective therapy. Methods.—Bone marrow samples from 2 AIDS patients with severe anemia and reticulocytopenia were studied. Bone marrow morphology and serologic studies were evaluated for parvovirus B19 infection. An immunohistochemical method using a monoclonal antibody, R92F6, to B19 capsid proteins was utilized on decalcified, B5-fixed, paraffin-embedded bone marrow biopsies. Bone marrow aspirate cells were examined by electron microsco...