title: Risk and clearance of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection in homosexual men: A longitudinal study.
abstract: The risk and clearance of GB virus type C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection was investigated in a cohort of homosexual men (n=180; median follow-up time, 7 years). The interaction between GBV-C/HGV RNA and antibodies against the E2 region of the virus, and the clinical impact of chronic GBV-C/HGV infection were studied. GBV-C/HGV RNA was detected by RT-PCR, and E2 antibodies were assessed by an immunoassay. At baseline, 63% of the participants had evidence of previous or current GBV-C/HGV infection. The GBV-C/HGV incidence rate was 2 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 0. 9-3.8) and was similar to the HIV incidence. The incidence of GBV-C/HGV infection was significantly higher in those reporting unprotected anal intercourse (3.6 per 100 person-years compared to 0 in the group without such sexual contacts). The occurrence of E2 antibodies was strongly associated with GBV-C/HGV RNA clearance. A loss of E2 antibodies was observed at a rate of 1.5 per 100 person-years. It was higher among HIV-infected individuals. Chronic GBV-C/HGV infection was not associated with clinical or biochemical evidence of liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Charité, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. klaus.stark@charite.de
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Doering
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bienzle
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pauli
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hamouda
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schreier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase