Abstract

 Background and Objectives

  Human Parvovirus B19, the causative agent of fifth disease in childhood, lacks lipid envelop and is resistant to many physicochemical agents. B19 is a potential risk to hemophiliac patients receiving blood products.

  Materials and Methods 

  The present research is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. To determine the prevalence of the corresponding antibody in patients with hemophilia A or B or Von Willbrand’s disease, we tested 180 hemophilia patients for anti B19 IgG. The results were compared with those of 400 age-matched controls subjects (male blood donors and children). SPSS version 10 and Chi-squar were used for data analysis.

 Results

 The overall prevalence of B19 IgG in the hemophilia patients was 74% (133/180) and in the control 56.5% (226/400, p<0.001).

 Conclusions

 These observations demonstrate that parvovirus B19 is frequently transmitted by blood products. Existing virus-inactivating methods do not prevent transmission.

 Key words: Parvovirus B19, Hemophilia, Viral inactivation, Plasma product