Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment of four patients with juvenile polyarticular arthritis associated with persistent parvovirus B19 infection and antiphospholipid antibodies

Children with rheumatic oligoarthritis and polyarthritis frequently establish persistent parvovirus B19 infections that may be associated with the production of antiphospholipid antibodies (anti-PL IgG). In this study we analysed the influence of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy on virus load, on the level of anti-PL IgG and its potential capacity to improve the patients' clinical status. Four juvenile patients with long-lasting polyarticular rheumatic diseases and persistent parvovirus B19 infection, associated in three cases with the presence of antibodies against β₂-glycoprotein I (anti-β₂GPI IgG), were treated with two cycles of IVIG on five successive days (0.4 g/kg per day). Clinical parameters including scores of disease activity, virus load and anti-PL IgG levels were determined before, during and after treatment. Two patients showed a complete remission that has lasted 15 months. During that period they showed neither clinical nor laboratory signs of inflammation. Viral DNA was not detectable in serum, and a decrease in anti-β₂GPI IgG was observed. As assessed by the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire and the Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children, both patients were no longer restricted in their activities of daily living and no impact on the health-related quality of life was observed. In one patient the therapy failed: there was no improvement of symptoms and no decrease in virus load or inflammatory parameters. In the fourth patient, clinical and laboratory parameters did not improve despite a decrease in both viral load and anti-PL IgG. Our results show that the use of IVIG to treat parvovirus B19-triggered polyarticular rheumatic disease of childhood might offer an opportunity to improve this disabling condition.