Prevalence of hepatitis G virus infection in kidney transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in 87 kidney transplant recipients.


METHODS
Infection was diagnosed with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction using primers in the NS3 region of the viral genoma.


RESULTS
Twenty-four patients (27.5%) were HGV RNA positive (HGV+ group) and 63 patients (72.5%) were HGV RNA negative (HGV- group). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups for age, sex, transplantation and hemodialysis duration, number of kidney transplantations, serum creatinine, history of transfusions, hepatitis B and C virus infections, and percentage of patients having suffered from acute rejection. Acute and chronic hepatitis were not more prevalent in the HGV+ group than in the HGV- group.


CONCLUSIONS
HGV infection is highly prevalent in kidney transplant recipients but does not alter liver or kidney functions. HGV contamination may be linked to nosocomial transmission during long-term hemodialysis.
Dussol
B
B
Service de Néphrologie et Hémodialyse, Hôpital Sainte Marguerite, Marseille, France.
Charrel
R
R
De Lamballerie
X
X
Berthezene
P
P
Brunet
P
P
De Micco
P
P
Raoult
D
D
Berland
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors
D012367:RNA, Viral; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase