title: [Infection with hepatitis GB virus C in intravenous drug abusers with type C chronic liver diseases].
abstract: Hepatitis B virus(HBV), hepatitis C virus(HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infections are common among intravenous drug abusers, with a global distribution. The recently discovered hepatitis GB virus C(HGBV-C)/hepatitis G virus(HGV) has been linked to blood-borne non-A-E hepatitis. HGBV-C RNA was determined by the polymerase chain reaction with primers deduced from a helicase-like region in 189 patients with type C chronic liver diseases. Overall, HGBV-C RNA was detected in 22(11.6%) patients. The prevalence of HGBV-C RNA was estimated according to the suspected transmission routes(blood transfusion, intravenous drug abuse, tattooing and unknown) of HCV. 22.7-25.0% of type C hepatitis patients with a history of intravenous drug abuse were positive for HGBV-C RNA. These results indicate that HGBV-C is transmitted frequently in intravenous drug abusers coinfected with HCV.
authors.affiliation: Aikawa Internal Hospital.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hakamada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aikawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral