Prevalence and Impact of Parvovirus B19-Induced Anemia in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Persistent anemia has been identified in kidney transplant (KTx) recipients with parvovirus B19 infection. However, the epidemiology and the link between parvovirus B19 and anemia post-KTx remain unclear. This systematic review aimed to (1) determine the incidence of parvovirus B19 infection post-KTx and (2) assess its association with anemia in this population. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted using EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases from inception to March 2024. Studies reporting the incidence of parvovirus B19 infection and/or seroprevalence in KTx recipients were included. Data were analyzed using the random-effects generic inverse variance method. Results: Nineteen observational studies comprising were analyzed. The pooled prevalence of parvovirus B19 immunoglobulin G was 62.2% (95% CI: 45.8%–76.1%). The pooled incidence of positive parvovirus B19 DNA within the first year post-KTx was 10.3% (95% CI: 5.5%–18.4%). Sensitivity analysis excluding studies focused solely on anemic KTx recipients showed a lower pooled incidence of 7.6% (95% CI: 3.7%–15.0%). Among KTx recipients with anemia, the pooled incidence of positive parvovirus B19 DNA increased to 27.4% (95% CI: 16.6%–41.7%). Meta-regression analysis revealed no significant.