Relation between GB virus C/hepatitis G virus and fulminant hepatic failure may be secondary to treatment with contaminated blood and/or blood products.
BACKGROUND
The role of the recently discovered GB virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) has been debated. Although GBV-C RNA has been detected in many cases of FHF, recent data suggest that the relation between GBV-C and FHF may be accidental.


OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively investigate the possible relation between the presence of GBV-C markers (RNA or antibodies to the GBV-C envelope 2 (E2) glycoprotein) and FHF.


METHODS
The presence of GBV-C RNA was determined in serum samples from 58 patients diagnosed with FHF using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Amplified genetic fragments were directly sequenced by the dideoxy chain termination method. Antibodies to GBV-C in serum samples were detected by enzyme immunoassay based on a recombinant GBV-C E2 protein.


RESULTS
Nine (16%) patients with FHF had GBV-C RNA and 13 (22%) [corrected] had GBV-C E2 antibodies, which are higher frequencies than in healthy subjects (p<0.01 and p<0.05 respectively). Six of nine [corrected] patients with GBV-C markers during FHF tested negative for these markers before therapy with blood and/or blood products. Sequence analysis of the GBV-C NS3 region fragments of six FHF patients showed no common sequence pattern or motif.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequencies of both GBV-C RNA and antibodies are higher in patients with FHF than in healthy subjects. However, these increased frequencies may in many cases be explained by the use of contaminated blood and/or blood products given as therapy.
Halasz
R
R
Division of Clinical Virology, F68, Department of Immunology, Microbiology, Pathology, and Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge University Hospital, S-141 86 Huddinge, Sweden.
Barkholt
L
L
Lara
C
C
Hultgren
C
C
Ando
Y
Y
Broomé
U
U
Fischler
B
B
Nemeth
A
A
Ericzon
B G
BG
Sönnerborg
A
A
Sällberg
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000821:virology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral