[Serological and pathological follow-up studies of the patients with single GBV-C/HGV RNA infection].
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the pathogenicity of GBV-C/HGV in causing viral hepatitis.


METHODS
The sera and bioptic liver tissues, which involved 8 cases of the second liver puncture with an interval of 2 years, from 24 cases of single GBV-C/HGV RNA positive patients were observed for more than 2 years. GBV-C/HGV RNA in the sera and liver tissues was detected by using RT-PCR and in situ hybridization, respectively. Under light and electron microscope, the pathology of the liver tissues was observed.


RESULTS
At the beginning of the observation, the mean serum alanine transaminase(ALT) level was 60.17 IU/ml(range, 42.00-87.00 IU/ml), and the positive rates of anti-E2 antibody and GBV-C/HGV RNA in the sera and NS3 and/or NS5 in the liver tissues were 4.17%, 75.00% and 54.17%, respectively. In all the examined specimens, 79.17% of them showed mild acute or chronic hepatitis, mainly presenting with degeneration of hepatocytes, mild portal inflammation. GBV-C/HGV RNA and its NS3 and/or NS5 antigens were mainly detected in hepatocytes and a few mononuclear cells. In contrast, after more than 2 years, the natural change rate (negative rate of GBV-C/HGV) of 24 cases was 66.67% (P < 0.001). 75.00% had normal ALT level (P < 0.001) and 41.67% of anti-E2 antibody in the patients was positive (P < 0.001). Through histological observation, besides 2 cases of liver tissues showing very mild hydropic degeneration, there were no abnormal findings in 8 cases of the second liver biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
GBV-C/HGV could induce mild and self-limited hepatitis, which showed that GBV-C/HGV may be a light and self-limited pathogenic agent to human liver. E2 antibody appearance may indicate a recovery and provide a protection from GBV-C/HGV infection. Whether there is any other recovery marker in serum requires further study.
Zhao
J
J
302nd Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100039, China.
Wang
S
S
Xin
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D029407:GB virus C / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D012367:RNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins