title: Histopathologic impact of GB virus C infection on chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dual infection by hepatitis GB virus type C (GBV-C) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is common. To assess the histopathologic impact of GBV-C infection on liver lesions, liver biopsy specimens of 105 patients chronically infected with HCV, 17 of whom (15%) were also infected with GBV-C, were reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semiquantitative histopathologic assessment of liver lesions was performed using the Knodell's score and the METAVIR grading system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hepatitis activity was mild, moderate, or severe in 3 (18%), 11 (64%), and 3 (18%) patients, respectively, infected with GBV-C and HCV vs. 26 (29%), 56 (64%), and 6 (7%) patients, respectively, infected with HCV alone (no significant difference). Cirrhosis was present in 4 (24%) coinfected patients vs. 19 (22%) HCV-positive patients (no significant difference). No significant difference in fibrosis, presence of portal lymphoid aggregates, steatosis, and hemosiderosis was observed between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the evaluation of each item of the Knodell's score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This detailed histopathologic evaluation of GBV-C infection in chronic hepatitis C shows that GBV-C infection does not affect histopathologic severity and characteristics of chronic hepatitis C, thus suggesting a minor role of GBV-C infection in liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital Henri Mondor, University Paris XII, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bralet
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roudot-Thoraval
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pawlotsky
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bastie
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tran Van Nhieu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duval
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dhumeaux
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Zafrani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000473:pathology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged