Klinisch spectrum van parvovirus B19-geassocieerde acute myocarditis bij kinderen

BACKGROUND:Parvovirus B19 is a DNA virus transmitted via respiratory droplets, commonly causing erythema infectiosum in children but also implicated in acute myocarditis. In 2024, an outbreak of parvovirus B19 infections was reported across Europe and the United States. Despite growing awareness, data on the clinical features and outcomes of children with parvovirus B19–associated acute myocarditis remain limited.METHODS:This multicenter retrospective observational study reviewed medical records of pediatric patients (<18 years of age) admitted with acute myocarditis to 11 Italian tertiary pediatric cardiac centers between January 1, 2022, and October 31, 2024. Of 217 cases, 66 had confirmed parvovirus B19 DNA in plasma (PVB19+), whereas 82 with negative parvovirus B19 testing served as a comparator group (PVB19−). Population-based incidence trends of pediatric myocarditis were also evaluated in the Lombardy region from 2004 through 2024.RESULTS:Among PVB19+acute myocarditis cas