Infection with human parvovirus B19 causes a wide range of clinical manifestations, which may vary according to the immune status of the patient. They include erythema infectiosum (fifth disease), symmetrical polyarthritis, vasculitis, transient aplastic crisis in patients with low red cell production, and chronic infection in immunocompromised patients. We report a patient treated with immunosuppressive drugs in whom bilateral brachial plexitis and polyarthritis were associated with parvovirus B19 acute infection.

A 33 year old woman presented with severe pain in the arms. She had a two year history of severe Crohn’s disease and was treated with azathioprine (125 …