Parvovirus B19 Infection as a Rare Cause of Fulminant Liver Failure: A Case Report

Parvovirus B19 infection is common in childhood. The clinical presentations range from benign to life threatening. The literature shows that the clinical presentation is influenced by the patient's age and the presence of chronic disease such as chronic hemolytic disorders and immunosuppressed conditions. As the majority of patients with liver failure are diagnosed as indeterminate, knowledge about parvovirus B19 associated liver disease is limited. We examined 3 children with parvovirus B19-induced fulminant liver failure, 2 of whom underwent liver transplantation. Although the presented patients received standard corticosteroid and tacrolimus therapy as an immunosuppressive regimen, acute rejection, parvovirus B19 persistence, or any other complications due to parvovirus B19 were not observed. Physicians should be aware of the parvovirus B19 infection in association to acute liver diseases.