Parvo virus B19 (Fifths disease)

Question

Is anyone aware of a connection between Parvo virus B19 and autoimmune disorders?

kwarendorf · Answer

Hi Julie - Welcome to the forum.

You have found a pretty old thread. It was last updated over 4 years ago. Many of the original participants are no longer visiting. I've been here over 2 years and have not seen Sherry post.

Why not "Post a Question" and introduce yourself. Use the link at the top of the page. We're a pretty friendly group :-)

Kyle

Juliepres · Answer

Sherry:  i also ended up with MS during the pregnancy of my 3rd child.  I had numbness start at my feet and come all the way up to my chest which they said is unusual because flareups dont happen during pregnancy.  I was reading this and found your entry and couldnt believe I found another who showed ms signs during a pregnancy.  I also developed auto immune hepatitis which they thought was gall bladder but they discovered it wasnt.  My son has fifth disease and i remember i had it when i was like 10 and stumbled onto this.

Quixotic1 · Answer

Hi, Jenelle, you jumped into a very old post and one that people might not see you on.  Were you researching Parvo B19 in connection to MS?  If so, please go to our main forum page (click on Back to Forum) and tell us about yourself (click on Post a Question).

Parvo B19 is the virus responsible for Fifth Disease also known as Slapped Cheek Disease.  It's medical name is Erythema (redness) Infectiosum (contagious).  It was first described in the 1880's and was the fifth of the red rash illnesses of childhood.  The first four were Measles (Rubeola), German Measles (Rubella), Roseola, and Scarlet Fever ( the rash of a strep infection).

Parvo B19 is a very mild infection.  It begins as a short, mild illness very contagious illness that is so mild it is often overlooked.  The infection passes, then about three weeks later the child (or adult) breaks out in a characteristic rash on the trunk and upper arms or legs, and has bright red cheeks as if they had been slapped.  At the time of the appearance of the rash they are NOT any longer contagious.  That is why they are not excluded from school at the time of the rash.

Older girls and women may also get a transient arthritis with the appearance of the rash.  I did, however in my right ankle the arthritis became permanent.  This infection can cause miscarriages when contracted in the first trimester.  Parvo can depress the bone marrow to some extent in all people.  Children with Sickle Cell Anemia (The Sick as H*ll Anemia) may go into a crisis where their blood count falls and may need transfusions.

I don't know why there is not a vaccine.  I presume it is because the illness is so mild and most people get it as children.

To my knowledge Parvo B19 is not linked to MS.

Quix

Jenelle44 · Answer

My lord, there are so many viruses out there. I have not heard of this one yet. What type of blodd tests are done for this diagnosis?

rockchalk76 · Answer

I had time to do some research and was able to answer the question that I asked above,i.e. is Parvo B19 able to cross species.  Here is a link to the site I found:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/respiratory/parvo_b19.htm
What isn't on this site is anything about when this disease was recognized.  I don't remember ever hearing about it when I was a kid (53 now) and certainly didn't learn about it when we were studying viruses in college.  I've never had a rash like that mentioned but suffered from joint pain for many years with rheumatic fever.  I wonder why they haven't developed a vaccine for this, since one exists in animal medicine? - Kay

Siddy1 · Answer

I found this:

.......To determine if autoantibodies to myelin basic protein (MBP) are produced during parvovirus B19 infection, a competitive ELISA was performed using plasma from MS patients exhibiting high IgG titers for parvovirus. Our results showed the addition of MBP decreased the binding of IgG to B19 antigen in a dose dependent fashion suggesting a possible link between parvovirus B19 and a subset of patients with clinical MS..........

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16472070
.

Marcie

rockchalk76 · Answer

I used to work as a researcher in veterinary medicine.  My area of speciality was Leptospirosis but I also assisted in the lab that tested for the animal form of Parvo.  I haven't worked in this field for many years, so don't remember if with is even the same family (Parvo B19) as the one we saw mainly in pigs and dogs.  Then I married a veterinarian and the area where we lived in Colorado experienced a terrible outbreak of the canine form of Parvo in the 80's.  I helped in the clinic and cleaned up I don't know how many cages from dogs who were dying with this disease.  Of course I had gloves on but no mask.  Through my work in veterinary medicine I've been exposed to many animal diseases and vaccinated for many that most people usually aren't like rabies.  I know not every disease will cross species but we seem to be learning of more that can.  

I finally had my appointment with the neurologist and he did not think that I have MS.  He said that it looked like my brain showed changes similar to those that someone would see in someone of my age (53) who has high cholesterol and high BP, which I do and recently started medication to get both under control.  He said that my cervical spine showed that my arthritis in the neck has gotten worse and I had already figured that out from the pain.  He didn't see any lesions on the spine and my MRI was without and then with contrast.  I passed the neurological tests at the exam.  I got a copy of the MRI report.  There was no mention of MS on the report, only to arthritis.  I have had both histology and pathology and understood most of the report.  I was so worried about MS that I forgot to ask him if some of the symptoms I have had could be related to the dysautonomia that my cardiologist feels I have, due to his diagnosis of inappropriate sinus tachycardia.  Have you heard about patients diagnosed with MS who actually had dysautonomia which causes problems with the autonomic nervous system?  I have joint pain & bursitis in left hip area that hasn't gone away in 4 months, 2 very short episodes of double vision that maybe lasted a minute, and one episode of a shaking left hand (I am right handed) for maybe 5 minutes.  I was so hoping that I was going to be able to get off this terrible roller coaster that I have been on for the past several months, and after reading the posts, especially the ones you have made about MRIs that maybe I should take more of a wait and see attitude than one of "I'm in the clear!".  - Kay

Deb61 · Answer

This is very interesting.  When I was a child, fifth disease was running rampant in my elementary school.  I got it and my sister came down with at as well.  

Later on in my path to find out what was going on with me, my first rheumy tested me for Parvo Virus B19 and I tested positive.  Second rheumy gave me a mild reactive arthritis diagnosis (fingers).

My sister and I both have mild arthritis and MS.

KellyElizabeth · Answer

Hi.  I got blood work back that was postitive for Parvo Virus B19.  I knew that's what I had, even though it took a few docs and a month to comvince anyone.  A short lived rash (one day), but it's more than two months now of constant pain in every single joint in my body and I headache I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.  Am now on steroids, but whenever I try to wean off, my awful symptoms come back.  No one has heard of Fifth's being this severe.  I am just about bed ridden.  Friends keep asking about my rash and I don't know whether to laugh or cry!  It's supposed to be self-limiting and resolve itself but I have been resting for two months (off work) and there is no end in sight.  I feel like it's getting worse.  I also feel my vision being affected, don't know what that's about.  I am afraid this is mutating into some autoimmune problem.  By the way, I have basically worked myself into oblivion my whole life: full time teacher with three kids under seven and no family around to help.

Quixotic1 · Answer

Well, I think the encounter you had with Guillain Barre is VERY interesting and MAY play a role in what you are going through now, but in the guise of CIDP.  I will be back with treasures of knowlege and the proper hat and pipe later.  Quizzically yours, quix

chsr008 · Answer

No, you did not contridict yourself.  I left out the virus thing in my original post.  I need to put together a time line I have read so many reference to.   I guess I thought since my symptoms returned this was not related to the virus, thats why I am so interested in this thread.

Momzilla · Answer

Interesting, very interesting, my dear Watson!  My but you do run the gamut!  

Did you get the Fifth's on the Indian reservation, or do you prefer to take the fifth?  Or drink a fifth?

Holmes*

Quixotic1 · Answer

Myositis and Polymyositis are forms of vasculitis.  See?  Beat ya to it!  No, I don't htink my leg thing is vasculitis.  I think it is a sympathetic neuropathy like RDS, but mostly without the pain. 

Q Watson

Momzilla · Answer

Hi, Quix~  I'm sure you've read about a connection with Parvo B19 and vasculitis.  I'm not even sure what vasculits is except that it would imply some sort of inflammation.  Could this have anything to do with your leg troubles?  

Sherlock Holmes*

Quixotic1 · Answer

Oh, my, did I just contradict myself?  Would you like me to write up a little on CIDP or give you some references?  Q

chsr008 · Answer

Yes I do.  Quix you actually responded to my first post a day or so ago "Should i pursue a dx?" which I greatly appreciated.  My symptoms are just peripheral and have just returned after 3 yrs.  My left forearm, hand, and feet.  I still get the L'hermitte signs however, they are not as uncomfortable/painful as when they initially started.  All my test 3 yr. ago came back normal.  I was told then I didn't have GBS or MS, which is curious to me since I have L'hermitte signs.  Just to relax and try yoga.  I have always wondered about the virus connection since my father-in-law and I both had neuro problems at the same time and after the same illness.  I have an appt. with a new Dr. and I am going to ask about CIDP.

Quixotic1 · Answer

Hi, The rash you describe in your son does not sound like Parvo B19, but there are many viruses linked definitely to causing GBS, especially EBV, influenza and a ton of others.  Are you still having neurologic problems?  There is a disorder, which used to be considered the "chronic" form of GBS which is called Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP.  It is a relapsing Remitting disorder of the peripheral nerves and is often very treatable.

Quix

chsr008 · Answer

I have to jump in here.  A little over 3 years ago my son came down with an illness where he had a rash traveling all around his face, head and body followed by mild fever.  Days later I came down with the same thing that hit me a lot harder with a very high fever.  My father in-law came down with the same thing.  2 months later my father-in-law is in the hospital with Giallan-barre and I am having numbness down my left side.  The neuro I went to see told me we probably got some weird virus causing neurolgical problems.  I have always been really curious about the link between the two.

risnerrose · Answer

Sorry . . . I didn't mean to imply that the symptoms were all occuring at once; in fact, in the beginning it was dismissed as the flu . . . but then one of my children developed the rash.  I also had the classic lacey rash (Everything was such a whirlwind, I can't honestly remember the timeframe . . . and people were breaking out left and right in my household).  I do remember finding out I was pregnant and getting sick in the same week.  Because I was pregnant, my OB had my titers checked.  It was definitely Parvo B19.  I had to have ultrasounds checking on the status of the fetus for several weeks.

SUGAR~~ · Answer

Very interesting!!!! I vaguely recall having Fifth's Disease as a child. I will have to speak to my Mom about this. Another interesting piece to the puzzle????????....................Very clumsy as a child also. Always falling. Steps and I did not get along, very well!!!!

Quixotic1 · Answer

The symptoms you mention are not those of Fifth Disease.  The Parvo B19 viral disease is a VERY MILD illness WITHOUT a rash, but sometimes with  fever and mild, other flu-ish symptoms.  It is often so mild as to be missed entirely.   I never saw swollen nodes with it, but I couldn't find anything on this.  This is when the people with the infection are contagious.

Then right at about 10 days to 3 weeks after the infection, everyone breaks out with a rash, the slapped cheek appearance with brilliantly red cheeks.  Within a couple days usually a pink, lacey rash appears on their trunk mostly, but sometimes up on the neck and the upper arms and legs.   Occasionally at this time there might be swollen nodes at the hairline, but not usually.  The rash lasts for a sometimes in an on and off fashion for up to a few weeks.  Generally at this point they don't feel ill.  They are not contagiousness AT ALL during this time (That's why it makes no sense to exclude them from school.)

Older girls and women tend to be the ones who get joint pains and swelling (arthalgias and arthritis).  This arthritis is almost always temporary, but in an occsaional person, may persist.

Your illness with the rash, nodes, fever and feeling awful sounds like any one of several viruses, including Coxsackie, EBV, adenovirus..., but unlikely Parvo B19, unless they did acute and convalescent titers to prove it.    EBV can have one of the world's nastiest rashes, especially if the person gets a course of Amoxicillin with it, but can happen otherwise, too.  There are epidemics every year of Parvo B19 and there might have been one during the time you had your infection, but the rash and the fever at the same time just doesn't sound like Parvo.  I've seen a ton of it.

Here is a good info page on Parvo B19:

http://www.aafp.org/afp/991001ap/1455.html

This doesn't mean that your problems weren't set off by a virus, but your description does not fit Parvo B19, even if your doc said that's what it was.  

I'll keep my eyes out for other B19 links.  Quix

risnerrose · Answer

I had fifths the same week I discovered I was pregnant with my third child (1997).  I was terribly sick:  rash, fever, aches, large swollen nodes at the base of my skull.  

My first two pregnancies were a piece of cake - not even one episode of morning sickness.  During this pregnancy I was exhausted.  I developed acid reflux, gallstones, and tachycardia.  I also recall that this is when I first noticed a blurred area in my peripheral vision.  

After the birth of my son, I had an experience where my vision blurred terribly for about 15 minutes (I am only now putting all of these details together.)  When I had my gallbladder removed, I had to stay overnight in the hospital because of the naseau . . . which wouldn't be such a big deal - except I was severely dizzy (unable to focus - eyes seemed to be jerking back and forth) for two weeks following.  I tried to connect it to the surgery, but now I wonder???  I also remember my hands falling asleep throughout the pregnancy.  

When my son was two years old, I woke with a stiff neck . . . I've ended up having shoulder surgery.  The sega seems to go on and on.  

Finding this interesting!

Sherry

T-lynn · Answer

This is really interesting,my oldest had 5th disease,I ended up with it and 8 months later had a back surgery and was told I had MS.I know many that have had mono have ended up with MS.

Quixotic1 · Answer

Hi, I've been wanting to answer this, but I'm in a phase of hypersomnia (just slept for 20 hours) and of a lot of trouble with eye-tracking, so reading and writing is really hard.  

I can't believe you asked this question!  I've been watching for any information on Parvo B19 for years!  I had Fifth's Disease (also called Erythema Infectiosum and Slapped Cheek Disease.  It was the 5th of the childhood "red rash" illnesses to be described, after Measles, Rubella, Scarlet Fever, and Roseola) in the late winter of 1999, about 8 months before the onset of my first autoimmune disease AIED.  I broke out right in the middle of a mini-epidemic of it in my practice.  I still have a chronic arthritis (a reactive, inflammatory, post-viral arthritis) in my right ankle and right wrist from it.

I was always suspicious that it had something to do with the sudden onset of my autoimmune problems.  I've kept abreast of what I could find and Parvo B19 is definitely linked,at least indirectly, to human autoimmune disease, specifically Rheumatoid Arthritis, Myositis and Polymyositis.  But I have yet to see it linked to MS.  I found 2 references that are recent, that claim a link of B19 to MS, but I haven't been able to acces them.

As far as the viral links to MS the two viruses that have been repeated implicated as triggers are Epstein Barr Virus (EBV a virus in the herpes family) and Human Herpes Virus #6 (HHV-6).

So, answer to your question, Yes, definitely.  What's your story about Parvo B19?

Quix

Parvo virus B19 (Fifths disease)

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