title: Herpesvirus DNA is frequently detected in liver tissue from hepatitis C patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Herpesviruses infect the liver and cause minor hepatitis. Our aim is to verify the presence of herpesviruses in the liver from hepatitis C patients and the possible influence of these viruses in the liver disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched for herpesvirus DNA in liver biopsies from patients with hepatitis C and from a control group without hepatitis by means of nested polymerase chain reaction. Serological investigations were carried out as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four liver specimens from hepatitis C patients were examined, 12 of which (35.3%) were positive for at least one herpesvirus DNA, whereas among the 19 control specimens only two were positive (10.5%; P = 0.049). Liver biopsies from seven patients, three with acute hepatitis of unknown origin, three with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and one with autoimmune hepatitis were also investigated and three positive samples were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of herpesvirus DNA was found higher in patients with hepatitis C than in individuals without hepatitis. The influence of herpesviruses on the clinical course of hepatitis C is considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Biostatistics, University of Modena, Italy. c.cermelli@unimo.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cermelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Concari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pietrosemoli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meacci
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sabbatini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Divincenzo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carubbi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loria
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bagni
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carulli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Portolani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral