GB virus type C infection in hemodialysis patients considering co-infection with hepatitis C virus

✍ Scribed by S.M. Hosseini-Moghaddam; H. Keyvani; M. Samadi; S.M. Alavian; M. Mahdavimazdeh; S. Daneshvar; Z. Razzaghi

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 60 KB
• Volume: 80
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21161

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

GB virus type C is a well‐known viral agent with capability of infecting patients undergoing hemodialysis. Liver enzyme levels in infected individuals have been reported to remain within the normal range. Simultaneous infection of GBV‐C and other viral agents may occur due to common routes of transmission. A total of 104 hemodialysis patients living in Tehran were included in this case‐control study (53 patients with HCV infection, group I; and 51 with no HCV infection, group II). Diagnosis was made by detection Anti‐E~2~ protein using ELISA and HCV–RNA using RT‐PCR. History of HBV‐infection, organ transplantation, depression, malignancies, chemotherapy, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders and chronic cutaneous disorders were considered. Patients were evaluated for high‐ risk behaviors such as intravenous drug injection, addiction or substance abuse. A total of 14 patients (13.6%) were GBV‐C‐infected. Four of them were co‐infected with HCV. All patients with GBV‐C infection had viral genotype 2. Thirteen patients (12%) had a history of multiple blood transfusions. Mean (±SD) age of GBV‐C‐infected patients was 48.7 ± 13.8 years. Among GBV‐C infected patients, three patients had a history of organ transplantation and three had a co‐morbidity of diabetes mellitus. This study as the first case‐control study to evaluate the association between GBV‐C and HCV infection, to our knowledge, shows hemodialysis patients living in Tehran are infected with GBV‐C with intermediate level of frequency. The association of GBV‐C transmission with other viral blood‐borne agents might be necessary. J. Med. Virol. 80: 1260–1263, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.