title: Prevalence of and risk factors for hepatitis G (HGV) infection in haemodialysis patients: a multicentre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis G virus (HGV) or GB-virus type C (GBV-C) is, like hepatitis C, a blood-borne virus and a member of the family of flaviviridae. HGV is distributed globally and is present in the volunteer blood donor population. Thus, for epidemiological reasons, HGV is of interest in haemodialysis patients, who are at risk of parenterally transmitted infections. The aim of the present investigation was to assess the prevalence of HGV by antibody testing and HGV-RNA determination by PCR.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed in haemodialysis units of the Patienten-Heim-Versorgung, an organization of haemodialysis units throughout Germany. A total of 2796 out of 3042 patients (92%) from 43 haemodialysis units were enrolled prospectively in the trial. Liver function tests were performed and epidemiologic data were obtained to evaluate risk factors for HGV in haemodialysis patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antibodies against HGV were detected in 485 patients (17.5%). Viraemia was seen in 380 out of 1935 patients tested (19.6%). Fifty-eight patients (3.0%) were positive for both antibodies and HGV-RNA. Using a standard questionnaire in 1717 out of the 2786 patients, it was found that more than five blood transfusions increased the risk of HGV infection significantly (P<0.05). There was no association found between HGV infection and the length of time on haemodialysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HGV is common in German haemodialysis patients but, in contrast to other parenterally transmitted viruses, there is no further risk for new infections during haemodialysis, except for patients who have received several blood transfusions.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University, Schittenhelmstrasse 12, D-24105 Kiel, Germany. hhinrichsen@1med.uni-kiel.de
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hinrichsen
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leimenstoll
authors.forename: Gorch
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stegen
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.forename: Ulrich R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Fölsch
authors.forename: Wolfgang E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D029407:GB virus C; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction