HIGH PREVALENCE OF PARVOVIRUS B19 INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE UNDER HEMODIALYSIS: A MULTICENTER STUDY

Abstract Objective Parvovirus B19 (B19 V) infection is commonly acute and self-limited, but in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients under dialysis treatment, this infection could have increased the susceptibility to acute and chronic anemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and the risk of B19 V infection among Brazilian CKD patients under dialysis. Methods A study was conducted among 221 CKD patients and a control group of 142 blood donors. B19 V infection was evaluated in serum samples by real time PCR, and ELISA (Anti-B19 V IgM and IgG). Results B19 V DNA was detected in 65% (145/221) of CKD patients and it was significantly higher (p  Conclusions Despite of absence of clinical signs of B19 V infection, these data highlight the importance of B19 V infection in this high-risk population, since this B19 V persistent infection could become clinically significant after renal transplant. Moreover, the persistent viremia should be considered as a potential risk, mainly because the contamination of dialysis equipment.