Effusive-constrictive pericarditis associated with human parvovirus B19 infection.

A woman presented after an illness of fever and arthralgia, with increasing shortness of breath. Investigations revealed she had effusive constrictive pericarditis, anaemia, a pulmonary infiltrate, and evidence of acute parvovirus B19 infection. Parvovirus should be considered as a cause of pericarditis, especially if there is recent arthralgia or associated anaemia.