GBV-C/HGV infection in renal dialysis and transplant patients.
BACKGROUND
Recently a new human virus (GBV-C/HGV) was identified. With the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) the possibility of a high prevalence of the GBV-C/HGV infection in haemodialysis patients was demonstrated. The aim of the present study was to use a combination of the PCR and a new diagnostic test for antibodies to the viral envelope protein E2 to assess the prevalence of the GBV-C/HGV infection in German patients with renal failure.


METHODS
RT-PCR and ELISA were used to detect GBV-C/HGV RNA and antiviral antibodies (anti-E2) in the sera of 31 patients on a maintenance haemodialysis (HD)), 25 patients on a perioneal dyalisis (CAPD), and 92 renal transplant patients (RT).


RESULTS
A statistical trend was noted for a higher rate of the GBV-C/HGV RNA in the whole group of patients with renal failure (11.5%) than in the control group of organ donors (5.5%); The difference between GBV-C/HGV RNA prevalence in RT patients (15.2%) and in organ donors (5.5%) was found to be significant. Anti-E2, which are considered as an indicator of a past GBV-C/HGV infection, were detected in 12.9% of HD patients, in 20.0% of CAPD patients, in 10.9% of RT patients, in 11.1% of organ donors, and in 10.9% of blood donors. These differences were not significant. Time on haemodialysis was significantly longer in GBV-C/HGV infected patients compared to uninfected patients and all patients with the GBV-C/HGV RNA have a history of blood transfusions.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with renal failure treated with dialysis or subjected to renal transplantation are at increased risk of aquiring the GBV-C/HGV infection. Higher rates of the GBV-C/HGV RNA and a similar prevalence of anti-E2 in patients with renal failure as compared to donors suggest that the rate of GBV-C/HGV infection resolution in immunosuppressed patients with renal failure might be lower than in immunocompetent patients.
Szabo
A
A
Department of Nephrology, Essen University Clinic, Germany.
Viazov
S
S
Heemann
U
U
Kribben
A
A
Philipp
T
T
Roggendorf
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral