title: Current status of hepatitis G virus (GBV-C) in transfusion: is it relevant?
abstract: A new flavivirus, provisionally designated hepatitis G virus or GBV-C has recently been described. The virus is parenterally transmitted by exposure to blood through transfusion, intravenous drug use and haemodialysis. Heat- or chemically-treated blood products are associated with reduced risk of infection. The virus may also be transmitted from mother to infant and by the sexual route. Although hepatitis G virus has been detected in patients with acute and chronic hepatitis, a causative role of the virus in such cases has not been established. The majority of long term carriers of the virus appear to have no liver, biochemical or histological abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine at St. Mary's, London, UK. p.karayiannis@ic.ac.uk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karayiannis
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral