title: The clinical significance of GBV-C/HGV exposure in C-viral chronic liver disease and blood donors.
abstract: Aims: The relationship between the hepatitis G virus (HGV) RNA-positive state or the HGV anti-E2 antibody-positive state, and various clinical parameters among patients with C-viral chronic liver disease and blood donors, was examined. Patients and methods: The subjects consisted of 166 patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA-positive liver disease, and 157 blood donors. Serum samples were tested for the presence of HGV RNA by the polymerase chain reaction method. The HGV E2 antibody level was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: HGV RNA was detected in 1.3% of the blood donors, and HGV E2 antibodies were detected in the sera of 2.5% of the blood donors. The detection rate of HGV RNA and HGV E2 antibodies among the patients with C-viral liver disease was 4.8 and 28.3%, respectively. The detection rates of HGV RNA and HGV E2 antibody among those in each F stage were 0 and 25.0% among those in the F1 stage, 2.6 and 34.2% among those in F2, 11.1 and 27.8% among those in F3, 12.5 and 29.2% among those in F4, and 11.1 and 27.8% among those with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The detection rate of HGV RNA increased with the progression of the F stage and HCC, however, the detection rate of HGV E2 antibody among the four F stages and HCC did not significantly differ. In addition, the clinical parameters and background of those who did or did not have HGV E2 antibodies or HGV RNA, did not significantly differ. Conclusion: HGV exposure may promote the progression of liver fibrosis (F stage) in C-viral liver diseases.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchi kamimachi, Itabashiku, 173-8610, Tokyo, Japan
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saitoh
authors.forename: Mitsuhiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Iori
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Naohide
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aarakawa