Beyond Refractory Anaemia: A Focused Scoping Review of Parvovirus B19 Infection in Kidney Transplant Recipients

By Kristi SALIAJ, Elvana RISTA, Xhesiana CAUSHI, Eugena TOMINI, Alma ROBO

Abstract
Parvovirus B19 infection is a rare and underestimated complication encountered among kidney transplant recipients, with clinical implications extending beyond refractory anemia. This focused scoping review analyzed primary clinical evidence from 29 studies published over two decades, from 2002 to 2026, mapping current evidence across diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic domains. Serological testing was found to be unreliable in this population, with quantitative PCR emerging as the essential diagnostic tool. Management is guided by a sequential immunosuppressive framework, though no standardised protocol exists and randomised controlled trial evidence is absent. Paediatric recipients represent a particularly vulnerable and underserved population. Prospective multicentre data and targeted paediatric research remain the most pressing unmet needs in this field.
Keywords: Parvovirus B19; kidney transplantation; pure red cell aplasia; refractory anaemia; intravenous immunoglobulin; immunosuppression reduction; scoping review.