The role of transfusion-transmitted virus in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
OBJECTIVE
To study transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) infection in 75 patients on hemodialysis and examine its relationship with age, sex, duration of dialysis, history of transfusion, and chronic elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.


METHODS
Serum TTV was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), TTV genotypes by restriction fragment length polymorphism, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA by PCR.


RESULTS
Transfusion-transmitted virus was detected in 32 patients (42.7%). Transfusion-transmitted virus genotypes were as follows: G1 in 16 patients; G2, 3; G3, 1; G4, 2; G2-G5, 6; and unclassified, 4. Mean duration of dialysis was 37 +/- 32 months for TTV-positive patients and 43 +/- 37 months for TTV-negative patients (not significant). Twenty-seven (84%) TTV-positive patients and 27 (63%) TTV-negative patients had a history of transfusions ( p = 0.04). Chronic ALT elevation was observed in 9 patients; 5 of them were TTV-positive (16%) and 4 were TTV-negative (9%) (not significant). Four (40%) HCV RNA-positive patients and 5 (8%) HCV RNA-negative patients had chronic ALT elevation ( p = 0.003). Three TTV-positive patients with chronic ALT elevation were also infected with HCV. The two patients with isolated TTV infection did not have another clinical feature to explain their ALT elevation.


CONCLUSIONS
Transfusion-transmitted virus had a high prevalence in the patients on hemodialysis; genotype G1 accounts for half of the cases. Transfusion-transmitted virus infection depends on the transfusional antecedent but not on the duration of dialysis. Chronic ALT elevation is significantly associated with HCV infection but not TTV infection. However, TTV could be a causative agent of chronic ALT elevation in some patients.
Valtuille
Rodolfo
R
RTC, Monte Grande, CDM, Bio Sidus, Department of Clinical Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Frankel
Fernando
F
Gómez
Federico
F
Moretto
Héctor
H
Fay
Fabián
F
Rendo
Pablo
P
Lef
Leonardo
L
Fernández
José
J
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D022783:Torque teno virus / Q000235:genetics*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014766:Viremia
D012367:RNA, Viral