GB virus-C infection in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the frequency and significance of GB virus-C infection in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis.


METHODS
Serum specimens from 94 patients with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis were tested for GB virus-C RNA by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction. Serum samples from 50 normal subjects were also assessed.


RESULTS
Three of the 94 specimens from patients with autoimmune hepatitis were positive for GB virus-C RNA in comparison with none of the 50 control samples (3% versus 0%; P = 0.5). Two patients were seropositive after variceal hemorrhage and blood transfusion, including one patient who clearly acquired the infection in this fashion. One patient had no epidemiologic basis for his seropositivity. Viremia was prolonged in all infected patients (mean duration, 69 +/- 23 months; range, 36 to 113); however, no clinical features suggested a concurrent viral infection, and mortality was similar to that among the uninfected counterparts (33% versus 8%; P = 0.2). Liver transplantation was more common in the infected patients (67% versus 9%; P = 0.03), but the duration of disease was also longer in these patients (277 +/- 29 months versus 106 +/- 9 months; P = 0.0008). Clinical features and immediate responses to corticosteroid therapy were similar in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
GB virus-C RNA is found infrequently in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis, and GB virus-C is unlikely to be an important etiologic agent or prognostic determinant.
Czaja
A J
AJ
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Abdulkarim
A S
AS
Carpenter
H A
HA
Perez
R G
RG
Persing
D H
DH
Zein
N N
NN
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology
D012367:RNA, Viral