Virus-like particles in a case of acute hepatitis with human GB virus-C viraemia.
OBJECTIVE
It is still controversial whether the human GB virus-C can cause liver injury, as in situ demonstration of the virus is still inconclusive.


METHODS
Here we describe the case report of a patient with two episodes of severe acute hepatitis, who had a meticulous clinical, immunological and microbiological work-up, including human GB virus-C RNA detection by in situ hybridization and electron microscopy.


RESULTS
Human GB virus-C viraemia was found as the only potential cause of hepatitis in this patient. Furthermore, virus-like particles could be demonstrated in the cytoplasm of single hepatocytes by electron microscopy and human GB virus-C RNA was detected in the liver by in situ hybridization.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of human GB virus-C RNA in serum together with the demonstration of human GB virus-C RNA in the liver, favour acute human GB virus-C infection as the cause of liver injury in this patient. Thus virus-like particles and hepatic human GB virus-C RNA should be specifically looked for by electron microscopy and in situ hybridization, especially during the diagnostic work-up of patients with unexplained hepatitis.
Risse
F
F
Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik-Allgemeine Innere Medizin der Rheinischen, Friedrich Wilhelms Universität, Bonn, Germany.
Dombrowski
F
F
Ruf
T
T
Dienes
H P
HP
Sauerbruch
T
T
Spengler
U
U
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014766:Viremia
D012367:RNA, Viral