Prevalence of a novel DNA virus (TTV) among patients on maintenance hemodialysis.
OBJECTIVE
A recently detected DNA virus (TTV) has been assumed to be responsible for posttransfusion hepatitis in humans. Until now it is unclear whether patients on maintenance hemodialysis are at increased risk of acquiring TTV.


METHODS
Serum samples derived from 143 chronically hemodialyzed patients were examined for TTV viremia by nested PCR. All serum specimens were also investigated for viremia and for the presence of antibodies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) by PCR and serological assays, respectively.


RESULTS
The prevalence of TTV was determined to be 18.8% (n = 27), for HCV a prevalence of 15.4% (n = 22) and for GBV-C/HGV of 8.4% (n = 12) could be demonstrated. Parallel infection by TTV and HCV was detected in only 1.4% (n = 2) of the patients. In no serum sample could TTV and GBV-C/HGV be detected in parallel. None of the solely TTV-viremic individuals had clinical or biochemical signs of liver disease.


CONCLUSIONS
From our data we conclude that TTV viremia is widespread among hemodialysis patients and can be detected in 18.8%. Since no viremic patient had clinical or biochemical signs of liver disease, the hepatitis-inducing capacity of TTV remains unclear.
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg, Deutschland.
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D022783:Torque teno virus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014766:Viremia / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology
D017931:DNA Primers