[The significance of TT virus detection in persons with elevated alanine aminotransferase during routine medical check up and patients with liver diseases].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the significance of the new DNA virus (TTV) infection in persons with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) during routine medical check up and patients with liver diseases, and analyze its pathogenesis.


METHODS
PCR was used in the detection of TTV DNA in 19 serum samples from ALT elevated persons and 41 from ALT normal persons during their routine medical check up, and 182 serum samples from patients with various kinds of liver diseases. PCR products were confirmed by RFLP. Other hepatitis viruses were simultaneously detected using routine methods.


RESULTS
TTV DNA was detected in 10.53% (2/19) and 2.44% (1/41) in groups of ALT elevated and control respectively with no significant difference between their detective rates (P > 0.05). There were 9 cases with current HBV infection, 1 case with hepatitis C and 1 case with hepatitis A in group of elevated ALT. Two TTV positive cases were both superinfected with HBV. The detecting rate of TTV DNA in patients with liver diseases was 4.4%. Only one case out of 18 non A to G hepatitis showed TTV DNA in serum.


CONCLUSIONS
There were TTV infections in Chinese population. The main cause for ALT elevation in persons during routine medical check up was HBV infection. There were TTV infections in patients with liver diseases too. However, TTV wasn't the main cause of non A to G hepatitis. Thus, the pathogenesis of TTV might be very weak.
Peng
X
X
Viral Hepatitis Research Department, 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510630.
Gao
Z
Z
Chen
X
X
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000201:enzymology / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D022783:Torque teno virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase