Prevalence and histologic features of transfusion transmitted virus and hepatitis C virus coinfection in a group of HIV patients.
BACKGROUND
A recently identified DNA transfusion-transmitted virus has been associated with post-transfusion non-A to G hepatitis.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of transfusion-transmitted virus in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Its clinical role in the pathogenesis of liver disease was also evaluated in patients with transfusion-transmitted-virus hepatitis C virus coinfection compared with those with hepatitis C Virus infection alone.


METHODS
We evaluated 312 HIV-hepatitis C virus coinfected patients (225 males, 87 females). All underwent screening for transfusion-transmitted virus DNA using a nested polymerase chain reaction technique. In some transfusion transmitted virus-DNA positive patients, we performed a phylogenetic analysis. In 56 patients (20 transfusion-transmitted-virus-hepatitis C virus and 36 hepatitis C virus alone), liver biopsy was collected.


RESULTS
The prevalence of transfusion-transmitted virus was 113/312 (36%). The genotype distribution was similar to that reported in other studies. No difference in liver histology was found between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Transfusion-transmitted virus infection is common in human immunodeficiency virus patients. We found no histologic differences between liver biopsy specimens from patients coinfected with transfusion-transmitted virus plus hepatitis C virus compared with those infected with hepatitis C virus alone. Transfusion-transmitted virus is not clearly associated with a distinct liver injury.
Bruno
R
R
Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Pavia, IRCCS S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy. r.bruno@smatteo.pv.it
Sacchi
P
P
Debiaggi
M
M
Patruno
S F
SF
Zara
F
F
Ciappina
V
V
Brunetti
E
E
Filice
C
C
Zocchetti
C
C
Maffezzini
E
E
Pistorio
A
A
Filice
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015497:HIV-1; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D022783:Torque teno virus / Q000302:isolation & purification