Persistent hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in chronic hemodialysis patients and non-B, non-C chronic hepatitis.
Three groups of patients have been studied longitudinally for 24 months to analyze the role of hepatitis G virus (HGV) in hepatic disease. Group 1 consisted of 50 patients with non-B, non-C chronic hepatitis, group 2 consisted of 44 hemodialyzed patients, and group 3 consisted of 50 healthy blood donors. The presence of HGV RNA was detected by both reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). At the baseline visit the HGV RNA was detected in seven out of 50 patients with non-B, non-C chronic hepatitis, in two out of 44 hemodialyzed patients, and in three out of 50 healthy blood donors. HGV-infected hemodialyzed patients and HGV viremic blood donors had serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels within normal limits. During the follow-up period the two HGV-positive hemodialyzed patients and the three infected healthy blood donors did not show any sign of hepatic disease. There were no significant differences between HGV-positive patients in the three groups at the beginning and at the end of the follow-up. No considerable deterioration of general health conditions was observed on the basis of clinical and laboratory data in HGV-positive chronic hepatitis patients. Finally, HGV does not seem to be responsible for hepatic disease.
Grassi
M
M
Department of Medical Therapy, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
Mammarella
A
A
Sagliaschi
G
G
Granati
L
L
Musca
A
A
Traditi
F
F
Pezzella
M
M
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D029407:GB virus C / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis
D012367:RNA, Viral; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase