title: Analysis of viral infection by multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays in patients with liver dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While unexplained liver dysfunction is common, it is sometimes difficult to identify its exact cause. One cause is viral infections. The identification of viruses other than hepatitis B and C that cause liver dysfunction is difficult because no methods to simultaneously identify these viruses have been established. The aim of this study was to quickly and simultaneously identify multiple virus species.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 49 patients with unexplained liver dysfunction and undetermined inflammation were examined. The majority of patients had hematologic malignancies, and some had undergone bone marrow transplantation. Qualitative polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were performed to detect 12 species of DNA virus in whole blood. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed when a specific virus was amplified. In addition, 6 RNA hepatitis viruses were directly assayed by real-time PCR. These 2 PCR steps were completed within 1 hour.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most frequently detected virus in 37 patients with liver dysfunction, was transfusion transmitted virus (38%), which was followed by human herpes virus (HHV) type 6 (35%), Epstein-Barr virus (14%), cytomegalovirus (8%), and rarely hepatitis G virus and HHV-7 (3%). Similar viremia was observed in 12 patients with mild liver dysfunction. The results of the PCR assay were mostly consistent with those of routine virus serological tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A multiplex viral PCR assay was a useful tool for quickly identifying viruses that possibly cause liver dysfunction. It was also important that liver dysfunction acted as a proband that led to the discovery of serious viremia.
authors: Department of Hematology, Shinko Hospital, Japan.
authors: Kiminari
authors: K
authors: Ito
authors: Norio
authors: N
authors: Shimizu
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Watanabe
authors: Toshiharu
authors: T
authors: Saito
authors: Yuriko
authors: Y
authors: Yoshioka
authors: Emiko
authors: E
authors: Sakane
authors: Hiroko
authors: H
authors: Tsunemine
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Akasaka
authors: Taiichi
authors: T
authors: Kodaka
authors: Takayuki
authors: T
authors: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral