Authors

Abstract

A case control study was carried out during the period from October 2006 till September 2007
in Basrah Governorate. To estimate the overall prevalence of Human Parvovirus B19 (HPV
B19) antibody and its association to Rheumatoid factor seropositivity among sickler and non
sickler arthropathic patients.
A total of 182 blood samples were collected. Ninety (90) from arthropathic patients with or
without sickle cell diseases (SCD), who attended the orthopaedic, rheumatology and internal
medicine consultant clinics in Basrah General Hospital and Hemoglobinopathies Center at the
Maternity and Children Hospital. Ninety two (92) from control group, non arthropathic with or
without SCD.
Human parvovirus B19 IgG antibodies were serologically detected by an Enzyme- Linked
Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The rheumatoid factor was detected by Latex agglutination test.
The overall prevalence of HPV B19 antibody in Basrah among study population was 68.7% .
The prevalence of this antibody was 76.9% among arthropathic non sickler and 65.8% in sickler
arthropathic patients. These differences were shown statistically not significant P> 0.05
compared to control group where prevalence was 63.2% in non arthropathic sickler and 66.7%
among non arthropathic non sickler individuals.
Eighty percent of arthropathic patients who had positive rheumatoid factor were also positive for
HPV B19 antibody, which indicate a significant association (P<0.05).
In the present study the seropositivity of HPV B19 was shown to be increased with age. In
relation to site of joint affected, the small joints of the hand and foot were the commonest site of
manifestation 78.1%.
HPV B19 antibody was significantly more (79.7%) among persons with history of blood
transfusion. The types of SCD had no significant effect on the prevalence of HPV B19 antibody
(P>0.05). However there was a positive relation between HPV B19 seropositivity and the
duration of illness (P<0.0%).
In conclusion, HPV B19 is common with high prevalence in our region. There is clear
association between HPV B19 infection and rheumatoid factor positivity. Individuals with sickle
cell diseases regardless the type and those with history of blood transfusion were considered as
risk groups for acquiring HPV B19 infections.