GB virus C in systemic medium- and small-vessel necrotizing vasculitides.
BACKGROUND
Vasculitides are diseases of unknown origin in the majority of cases, but sometimes are the consequence of viral infections; for instance, hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) or hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated cryoglobulinaemia.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of hepatitis G or GB virus C (GBV-C) in various forms of medium- and small-vessel vasculitides.


METHODS
Retrospective analyses of sera.


METHODS
Tertiary care hospital in Bobigny, France.


METHODS
Fifty-six vasculitides: 19 HBV-PAN, 10 PAN without HBV infection, 11 microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), seven Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) and nine Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). Every sample was collected before treatment.


METHODS
GBV-C RNA was detected using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay with primers derived from the conserved GBV-C helicase and NS5a regions.


RESULTS
GBV-C was detected in five of the 56 samples (8.9%): four patients with HBV-related PAN and one with MPA; three of these patients (two with HBV-PAN, one with MPA) had been transfused and two HBV-PAN were i.v. drug addicts. GBV-C was not found in CSS or in WG.


CONCLUSIONS
GBV-C infection was observed only in patients who had been transfused or who were addicts. This virus is unlikely to have a primary role in vasculitides.
Servant
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine, UPRES 1625, Hôpital Avicenne, Université Paris-Nord, Bobigny, France.
Bogard
M
M
Delaugerre
C
C
Cohen
P
P
Dény
P
P
Guillevin
L
L
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009336:Necrosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000821:virology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*