title: Epidemiology and clinical significance of chronic hepatitis-related viruses infection in hemodialysis patients from Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A novel DNA virus which was designated TT virus (TTV) in 1997 was considered a possible hepatitis-related virus, like hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV) and GB virus C/hepatitis G viruses (GBV-C/HGV). In the present study, the molecular epidemiology and clinical significance of TTV, GBV-C/HGV and HCV infection in hemodialysis patients from Taiwan are investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera of 85 patients on maintenance hemodialysis were tested for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), second-generation HCV antibody (anti-HCV), anti-envelope protein 2 antibody (anti-E2) and RNA of GBV-C/HGV, HCV RNA and TTV DNA. Sera of patients with positive TTV DNA, GBV-C/HGV RNA or HCV RNA were tested for viruses 2 years later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven (8.2%) 29 (34.1%), 21 (24.7%), 12 (14.1%) and 9 (10.6%) hemodialysis patients were positive for HBsAg, Anti-HCV, HCV RNA, GBV-C/HGV RNA and anti-E2, respectively. TTV DNA was positive in 46 (54.1%) patients. Neither clinical nor virological factors were associated with TTV viremia. The ALT level was significantly elevated in HCV RNA-positive individuals than -negative ones (34.5 vs. 12.5%, p < 0.05). TTV DNA, GBV-C/HGV RNA and HCV RNA remained detectable in sera of 31 (86.1%), 6 (50%) and 21 (100%) patients collected 2 years after first diagnosis of viremia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among Taiwanese hemodialysis patients, TTV infection is highly prevalent. No clinical or virological factor was observed to be significantly associated with TTV infection. The ALT abnormality was mainly attributable to HCV but not TTV infection in Taiwanese hemodialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan/ROC.
authors.forename: Chia-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Ming-Lung
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wan-Long
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Ming-Hsing
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Zu-Yao
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shinn-Cherng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming-Yuh
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Liang-Yen
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jung-Fa
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Wen-Yu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D022783:Torque teno virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014766:Viremia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase