GBV-C/HGV and HCV infection in mixed cryoglobulinaemia.
Recently, a new, suspected hepatotropic virus has been identified. Named GBV-C/HGV, this virus shares with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) routes of transmission and molecular organization. Indeed, a proportion of HCV-infected patients (10-25%) are also carriers of GBV-C/HGV. Since mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC) is closely associated with HCV infection, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection in MC patients, and to investigate whether the double infection influenced the clinical and/or laboratory aspects of the disease. 52 patients affected by MC were studied. 100 patients affected by HCV-positive chronic liver disease (CLD) without MC were used as control group. To determine the prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection in general population, 150 blood donors were studied, as well as 80 patients affected by non-A-E CLD. Among the MC patients, only five (9.6%) were positive for both HCV and GBV-C/HGV infection. No difference was found between patients with and without double infection as regards main clinical and laboratory aspects. Among HCV-positive CLD cases, 27 were positive for double infection. Among blood donors, the prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection was 8.0%, whereas in cases with cryptogenetic CLD the prevalence was 5.0%. In conclusion, these data show that GBV-C/HGV infection does not play any role in the pathogenesis of MC.
Crovatto
M
M
Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Pordenone General Hospital, Pordenone, Italy.
Mazzaro
C
C
Mishiro
S
S
Santini
G
G
Baracetti
S
S
Zorat
F
F
Pozzato
G
G
D001706:Biopsy; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000821:virology; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000821:virology*; D018067:Flaviviridae; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008111:Liver Function Tests
D007075:Immunoglobulin M