title: GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection in patients investigated for chronic liver disease and in the general population in southern Sweden.
abstract: Serum samples from patients referred for liver biopsy for investigation of suspected chronic liver disease (n = 286) and from healthy middle-aged volunteers (n = 445) were analyzed for markers of exposure to GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV), hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. GBV-C/HGV analyses included GBV-C/HGV PCR for detection of viremia and GBV-C/HGV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-GBV-C/HGV E2 antibodies. Liver biopsies were re-evaluated by a hepatopathologist. GBV-C/HGV markers were detected in 97/286 (34%) patients (GBV-C/HGV RNA = 26; anti-GBV-C/HGV E2 antibodies = 74) compared to 86/445 (19%; p < 0.0001) controls (GBV-C/HGV RNA = 7, anti-GBB-C/HGV E2 antibodies = 79). A significantly higher proportion of GBV-C/HGV-exposed subjects in the patient group were viremic compared to controls (27% vs. 8.1%; p = 0.0015). GBV-C/HGV markers were more commonly found in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C. In patients with GBV-C/HGV viremia, a higher occurrence of bile duct degeneration was detected than in non-viremic patients. Markers of GBV-C/HGV infection were over-represented among patients investigated for chronic liver disease, and ongoing GBV-C/HGV viremia was more common in this group than in controls. Apart from a higher prevalence of bile duct degeneration in viremic patients, infection with GBV-C/HGV did not confer any specific histological characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Björkman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Widell
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Veress
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verbaan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elmståhl
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindgren
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D029407:GB virus C / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies