HGV/GB virus C transmission by blood components in patients undergoing open-heart surgery.
BACKGROUND
To establish the rate of HGV/GB virus C (GBV-C) transmission by blood components in open-heart surgery patients.


METHODS
From 55 patients receiving blood components, sera were collected before and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 26, and 32 weeks after heart surgery. Serum samples from patients and implicated blood donations were tested for HGV/GBV-C RNA by PCR. Recipients of RNA-positive blood components were also tested for the presence of E2 antibodies (E2Ab) by ELISA.


RESULTS
Of 55 recipients, 18 received RNA-positive blood components. Of 14 recipients of RNA-positive blood components, who were negative for RNA or E2Ab before transfusion, 8 became RNA positive and one developed E2Ab after transfusion. Three recipients of RNA-positive blood components had E2Ab before transfusion, and none of these became RNA positive after transfusion. One of 18 recipients was RNA positive before and after transfusion. Of 55 recipients, 37 received RNA-negative blood components: 34 were RNA negative before and after transfusion. Of 37 recipients, 3 were RNA positive before and after transfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Of susceptible patients, 64 percent became infected with HGV/GVC-C when transfused with RNA-positive blood components. E2Ab-positive patients were protected against HGV/GBV-C infection.
Sentjens
Roel
R
Sanquin Blood Bank Northwest Region and the Academic Medical Center Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Basaras
Miren
M
Simmonds
Peter
P
Vrielink
Hans
H
Reesink
Henk
H
D000071443:12E7 Antigen; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000276:immunology; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D029407:GB virus C / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
D000071443:12E7 Antigen; D000906:Antibodies; D015703:Antigens, CD; C061828:CD99 protein, human; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D012367:RNA, Viral