title: GBV-C/hepatitis G virus (HGV) RNA load in immunodeficient individuals and in immunocompetent individuals.
abstract: The aim of this study was to establish the mean plasma GBV-C/hepatitis G virus (HGV) RNA load in groups of GBV-C/HGV-infected individuals with varied immune status and to determine the most frequent patterns of evolution of the plasma GBV-C/HGV RNA load over time during the natural history of infection. The mean plasma GBV-C/HGV RNA load observed was, from the lowest to the highest: 5.21 log in immunodepressed multiply-transfused patients, 6.45 log in HIV-positive individuals, 6.66 log in immunocompetent multiply-transfused patients, and 6.71 log in blood donors. The difference was significant between the four groups (P < 0.0001). The most frequent pattern of evolution of the plasma GBV-C/HGV RNA load was as follows: after the primary GBV-C/HGV infection, the viral load was elevated from the onset; then, a high, persistent and relatively steady viral RNA level was the rule; and when it occurred, the loss of viremia was not preceded by a decrease before recovery from GBV-C/HGV infection.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine, Paris, France. lefrere@worldnet.fr
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lefrère
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Férec
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roudot-Thoraval
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loiseau
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cantaloube
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Biagini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: LeGac
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mercier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral