Fulminant parvovirus B19-associated pancarditis with haemophagocytic lympho-histiocytosis in an immunocompetent adult

APMIS. 2009 Oct;117(10):773-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2009.02528.x.

Abstract

Myocarditis is a common cardiac disease that is identified on routine postmortem examinations. Initially, coxsackie viruses, other enteroviruses and adenoviruses were thought to be more common causes of myocarditis; however, recently, parvovirus B19 (PVB19) as well as human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) have entered the arena. We describe autopsy findings of a patient who had a lethal myocarditis with haemophagocytic lympho-histiocytosis in a course of systemic PVB19 infection. The present case illustrates the unusually severe and rapid course of PVB19 myocarditis with associated haemophagocytic lympho-histiocytosis leading to death.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Humans
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / pathology*
  • Male
  • Myocarditis / pathology*
  • Parvoviridae Infections / pathology*
  • Parvovirus B19, Human / isolation & purification*