[GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection in patients with chronic non-B, non-C hepatitis].
We tested HGV RNA in serum in addition to HBV DNA and HCV RNA to study the causative agents involved in chronic non-B, non-C hepatitis. Twenty five patients diagnosed as having chronic non-B, non-C hepatitis(negative for HBsAg and HCV-Ab), were investigated in this study. HGV RNA was detected by nested RT-PCR using primers in 5'-untranslated, NS3 and NS5 regions. Of the 25 patients, 4(16%) were positive for HGV RNA, only 1(4%) was positive for HBV DNA and none were positive for HCV RNA. Of the 4 patients with HGV RNA, 2 histologically has mild fibrosis and the remaining 2 had cirrhosis. One patient with cirrhosis also had hepatocellular carcinoma; HBV DNA was positive in this patient. All 3 patients with only the HGV infection had a mild histological grade. In conclusion, HGV infection was involved in 16% of Japanese patients with chronic non-B, non-C hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis G seemed to exhibit mild hepatitis activity.
Tanaka
E
E
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine.
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D012367:RNA, Viral