Hepatitis G virus coinfection in hepatitis C virus-infected liver transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
In this study, we determined the prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in end-stage hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease and examined the influence of HGV coinfection on the outcome of liver transplantation.


METHODS
HGV was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting in sera drawn from 159 patients who were known to be HCV infected before transplantation. Patients were followed up for a mean of 28.4 months after transplantation.


RESULTS
Forty-one (25.3%) patients were HGV positive and the prevalence of HGV infection was similar for different HCV genotypes. Both HGV-positive and -negative groups had similar survival, recurrence rates, inflammatory activity scores, and degree of fibrosis at the time of recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Infection with HGV is common in end-stage HCV-infected patients presenting for liver transplantation. It influences neither the outcome of liver transplantation nor the recurrence of hepatitis in the graft.
Vargas
H E
HE
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-2582, USA.
Laskus
T
T
Radkowski
M
M
Poutous
A
A
Wang
L F
LF
Lee
R
R
Dodson
F
F
Gayowski
T
T
Singh
N
N
Marino
I R
IR
Fung
J J
JJ
Zhang-Keck
Z Y
ZY
Kim
J P
JP
Rakela
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018067:Flaviviridae; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000821:virology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged