title: Prevalence and significance of hepatitis GB virus-c/hepatitis G virus viremia in a large cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection, with chronic hepatitis C infection, and on renal replacement therapy in Hong Kong.
abstract: A total of 455 patients were recruited to study the prevalence of hepatitis GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus viremia in Hong Kong. There was no significant increase in the prevalence of hepatitis GB virus-C viremia in asymptomatic hepatitis B virus- and hepatitis C virus-infected patients compared to that of controls (1.56% and 7.14%, respectively, vs 3.85%, both P = NS). Renal patients as a whole had a significantly higher prevalence of hepatitis GB virus-C viremia compared to that of controls (13.95% vs 3.85%, P = 0.0271). The duration of the replacement therapy, especially for patients with peritoneal dialysis was associated with a higher chance of hepatitis GB virus-C viremia. Among renal patients, renal transplanted patients had the highest prevalence of hepatitis GB virus-C viraemia (19.1%) probably because of a higher susceptibility as a result of immunosuppression. However, hepatitis GB virus-C viraemia did not cause liver biochemistry derangement in renal transplanted patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, China.
authors.forename: Man-Fung
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Tak-Mao
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Terence Pok-Siu
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: John Chi-Hang
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Stephen Ka-Nung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Ching-Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D029407:GB virus C; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy; D014766:Viremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology