Influence of GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus infection on the long-term course of chronic hepatitis B.
OBJECTIVE
The clinical significance of GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) infection in chronic hepatitis B is not well known and its role in the outcome of liver disease was investigated.


METHODS
HGV-RNA and antibody to HGV (anti-E2) were studied in 125 patients with chronic hepatitis B (41 with multiple hepatitis virus exposure), 82 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers and 103 healthy adults.


RESULTS
In chronic hepatitis B, HGV-RNA was more frequent in patients with HDV infection and/or anti-HCV positivity than in those without (29% vs 6%, p<0.0001), mainly in drug addicts (38%). At diagnosis the overall prevalence of any marker (HGV-RNA plus anti-E2) was similar in chronic hepatitis due to HBV alone (17%), in HBsAg carriers (16%) and in healthy adults (17%) and increased to 58% in those exposed to HDV and/or HCV. During 1-11 years of follow-up, HGV infection persisted in 70% of patients with chronic hepatitis B. About 400% of HGV persistently coinfected patients underwent sustained biochemical remission, whereas continuing disease activity was observed in 80% of patients who cleared HGV-RNA.


CONCLUSIONS
In chronic HBV infection the rate of exposure to HGV is similar to that in healthy adults, except for high risk patients. Long lasting HGV coinfection or anti-E2 seroconversion did not modify the course of chronic hepatitis B.
Fattovich
G
G
Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Cattedra di Medicina Interna, University of Verona, Italy.
Ribero
M L
ML
Favarato
S
S
Azzario
F
F
Donato
F
F
Giustina
G
G
Fasola
M
M
Pantalena
M
M
Portera
G
G
Tagger
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000032:analysis
D017931:DNA Primers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C107619:glycoprotein E2, GB virus C