GBV-C/hepatitis G virus in acute nonA-E hepatitis and in acute hepatitis of defined aetiology in Italy

✍ Scribed by Roman??, Luisa; Fabris, Paolo; Tanzi, Elisabetta; Tositti, Giulia; Mazzotta, Francesco; Zanetti, Alessandro R.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 129 KB
• Volume: 61
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9071(200005)61:1<59::aid-jmv9>3.0.co;2-y

✦ Synopsis

The role of GBV-C/HGV in the aetiology of acute non A-E hepatitis and its impact on the course of acute hepatitis of defined aetiology were investigated by detecting viral RNA by RT-PCR and antibody to the E2 protein of GB virus C (anti-E2) by EIA. Ninety-eight patients with acute nonA-E hepatitis, 35 patients with acute hepatitis A, 63 with acute hepatitis B, 29 with acute hepatitis C and 270 controls were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV RNA was similar among patients with acute nonA-E hepatitis (3.1%), with acute hepatitis A (2.9%), and controls (3.7%), but significantly higher (P < 0.05) among those with hepatitis B or C (19.0% and 48.3%, respectively). Similar figures were obtained considering the total rate of GBV-C/HGV exposure (viral RNA or anti-E2 positivity). The majority (24/30 or 80%) of GBV-C/HGV RNA positive patients reported a parenteral source of exposure whereas the remaining 20% denied having known risk factors. The liver function test values and the rate of chronic hepatitis B and C were similar in patients co-infected and in those not co-infected with GBV-C/HGV. This study excludes a significant role of GBV-C/HGV infection in the aetiology of acute nonA-E hepatitis in Italy. Concomitant GBV-C/HGV and HBV or HCV infection does not worsen the clinical course of illness among patients with acute hepatitis.