title: [Investigation of hepatitis G virus prevalence in hemodialysis patients and blood donors in Denizli, Turkey].
abstract: This study focuses on the prevalence of hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) in hemodialysis patients and blood donors in Denizli (located at Aegean region of Turkey). A total of 100 patients (mean age: 56.8 +/- 13.3 years; 46 female) receiving hemodialysis and 100 blood donors (mean age: 31.3 +/- 8.1 years; 8 female) were included in the study. The presence of GBV-C/HGV RNA was determined in all patients by reverse transcriptase-PCR and the presence of GBV-C/HGV anti-E2 antibodies was determined by a commercial enzyme immunoassay (Diagnostic Automation, INC). Viral RNA positivity was determined in 14 (14%) of the hemodialysis patients and 2 (2%) of the blood donors, the difference being statistically significant (p < 0.05). GBV-C/HGV anti-E2 antibodies were detected in 1 (1%) of the hemodialysis patients and 3 (3%) of the blood donors. Anti-E2 positive patient also revealed positive result for viral RNA. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of anti-E2 positivity. The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV was 14% in hemodialysis patients and 5% in blood donors (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in terms of duration of hemodialysis, serum ALT levels, age or gender between GBV-C/HGV positive and negative hemodialysis patients. In conclusion, since hemodialysis patients are at an increased risk of parenteral transmission, they have significantly higher GBV-C/HGV viremia rates and prevalence when compared to blood donors. However, the prevalence of GBV-C/HGV and coexistence between GBV-C/HGV and hepatitis C virus have been decreasing in our region owing to increased hygienic precautions in hemodialysis units, avoidance of unnecessary blood transfusions and more widespread use of erythropoietin.
authors.affiliation: Zonguldak Devlet Hastanesi, Mikrobiyoloji ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Kliniği, Zonguldak. mdsevgi@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sevgi Yilmaz
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hanci
authors.forename: Nural
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cevahir
authors.forename: Ilknur
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaleli
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hanci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D029407:GB virus C / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral