Prevention of parvovirus B19‐induced repetitive acute kidney failure by subcutaneous immunoglobulins

Abstract

Human parvovirus B19 has been associated with various cases of kidney injuries with different glomerular phenotypes. In immunocompromised individuals, insufficient production of neutralizing antibodies can lead to chronic PVB19 carriage and manifestations. However, PVB19 DNA has been detected in bone marrow and peripheral blood for months or years in seemingly immunocompetent individuals, despite the presence of neutralizing antibodies. We report here PVB19‐induced recurrent anuric acute kidney failures in a 57‐year‐old man over a 7‐year period with persistent PVB19 infection and then PVB19‐associated cryoglobulinemia. Acute renal failures were preceded by influenza‐like syndrome associated with arthralgia, skin rash, and low‐grade fever. Serum, bone marrow, renal, and digestive PVB19 replication was found in the different episodes. Endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis evolved into membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Complete renal recovery occurred after each bout. Off‐label subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy resulted in disappearance of blood and bone marrow PVB19 viral load and stopped the glomerulonephritis recurrence. Subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy withdrawal resulted in renal relapse with cryoglobulin‐associated manifestations.