title: Influence of transfusion-transmitted virus infection on the clinical features and response to interferon therapy in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: Recently, the genome of a novel DNA virus, transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV), was cloned from the plasma of a blood donor who had an elevated aminotransferase level but no serological markers of known hepatitis viruses. In this study, we investigated the influence of TTV infection on the clinical features and response to interferon (IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. We studied 247 patients who had received a 16- or a 24-week course of IFN-alpha therapy. The serum of these patients was analysed for TTV DNA using a hemi-nested polymerase chain reaction and TTV was detected in 114 patients (46%). No significant differences were found with respect to clinical features (gender, age, liver-related biochemical tests, hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype and serum HCV RNA levels) between the patients who were positive for TTV DNA and those who were negative for TTV DNA. The fibrosis score was higher in TTV-positive patients (2.1 +/- 1.1) than in TTV-negative patients (1.7 +/- 1.1, P = 0.023). The biochemical sustained-response rate was 25% in TTV-positive patients and 25% in TTV-negative patients (not significant). A sustained HCV clearance rate was achieved in 26% of TTV-positive patients and in 22% of TTV-negative patients (not significant). TTV DNA clearance after IFN therapy was observed in 36 of 69 patients (52%) for whom stored serum samples were available. The disappearance of TTV DNA had no effect on the biochemical response to IFN therapy. In conclusion, TTV co-infection is frequently observed in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C. In chronic hepatitis C, TTV does not modify the clinical features or the response to IFN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Higashiosaka City General Hospital, Higashiosaka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oshita
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iio
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hiramatsu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kakinuma
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fusamoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral